This year’s Pongal celebration in Little India is a triple celebration, as it coincides with Singapore’s 60th year of independence and the Silver Jubilee of the Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association (LISHA).
To mark 60 years of independence, 60 LISHA members and their families, all from various ethnic groups, will come together to organise this year’s Pongal celebration. Shaikh Fakhruddin, Chairman of the Pongal Festival Organising Committee, announced that senior citizens from Jamiyah Nursing Home and Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home will receive gifts for Pongal.
In addition to annual traditions such as lighting displays in Little India, cattle displays and the observance of Mattu Pongal, several youth and student-focused programmes have been organised. A total of 14 events will take place in Little India from 9 to 19 January.
The ‘Pongal Experiences’ programme, scheduled for 13 to 17 January, aims to introduce students to the rich traditions of Pongal, celebrating agricultural practices, and encouraging them to participate in these activities. Folk and traditional artists from Tamil Nadu will also perform Poikkaal Kuthirai Aattam and Karakattam for the programme.
The ‘Big Bus Tour,’ an open-top bus tour, has been organised for the Pongal season following its success during the Deepavali celebrations, where it was popular with both the public and tourists alike.
Other events, including a panel discussion, will also be held.
Rudrapathy, Honorary Secretary of LISHA, shared that students from the National University of Singapore, Singapore Institute of Management, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Singapore Institute of Technology are supporting this year’s events. He emphasised the importance of young people designing activities that appeal to their peers.
Rajkumar Chandra, owner of Jothi Store and Flower Shop, and senior advisor to LISHA, recalled the vibrant Pongal celebrations of the past, sharing how much they enjoyed celebrating the festival as children. He mentioned that the participation of today’s youth in traditional celebrations is growing and expressed his hope for this trend to continue.
Additionally, the ‘LISHA’ app was officially launched on 8 January, allowing users to learn about LISHA’s events and book tickets from them.
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The annual Interfaith Deepavali Tea Event, organised by the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and the Hindu Advisory Board (HAB), took place on Wednesday (November 27).
More than 175 people, including religious leaders, members, and foundation heads from Singapore’s 10 major religions, attended the event at the PGP Hall of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
The event was also attended by seniors from Sree Narayana Mission, residents of Ren Ci @ Woodlands, youth participating in the National University Hospital’s ‘Project Dreamcatchers’ programme, and students enrolled in the ‘Living Culture’ module at the National University of Singapore.
Mr. Murali Pillai, Minister of State for Law and Transport attended the event as Guest of Honour.
In his GOH speech, Mr. Murali highlighted that while ethnic and religious conflicts are prevalent worldwide, Singapore is no exception. He emphasized that such programmes offer a valuable platform for the respectful exchange of ideas on complex issues.
To commemorate the event, the Hindu Endowments Board and the Hindu Advisory Board jointly presented a check for $30,000 to the All-Faith Forum in the presence of Mr. Murali.
“For the past seven years, we have demonstrated our support for the All-Faith Forum’s activities through this event,” said Rajan Krishnan, chairman of the Hindu Endowments Board.
He also said that efforts to strengthen inter-faith harmony are not only the responsibility of religious leaders but that we all must play our part in building a non-violent and united world. The audience were entertained by Bharatanatyam and Kathak dances performed by the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS), as well as a traditional dance performance by ‘Soorya Singapore’.
Additionally, as part of the event, members of the Hindu Youth Network (Singapore) delivered a presentation on the art and architecture of various religions.
Hindu Advisory Board Chairman, Sengkuttuvan Kanniappan, said that Deepavali is even more special when celebrated on temple premises alongside people of other faiths, and such events highlight Singapore’s religious harmony.
He also mentioned that there are plans to host more similar events next year to celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday, focusing on unity between religions and cultures.
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