The recent visit of three ships from the Indian Navy has strengthened defence ties between Singapore and India, while also fostering deeper people-to-people connections. The ships—INS Sujatha, INS Shardul, and ICGS Veera—were stationed at Changi Naval Base for three days as part of a long-range training programme in Southeast Asia
On Friday, 7 February, Indian Navy chefs prepared meals for all 300 residents and staff of Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home in Chong Pang, ensuring the food was vegetarian and made with the utmost care. Officers from the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) distributed the food to the nursing home residents.
Captain Saikat Chatterjee, Defence Adviser at the High Commission of India in Singapore, led the initiative. A spokesperson for the High Commission stated that the effort reflects the Indian Navy’s commitment to giving back to the community.
S. Devendran, CEO of Sree Narayana Mission, briefed the Indian Navy personnel on the nursing home’s activities. Indian Navy officers also engaged in discussions with the team managing the nursing home’s daily operations.
Mr. Devendran expressed his gratitude to the Indian Navy and the High Commission of India for the initiative. “This is especially meaningful to me personally, as I was an international student at the National Defence College in India. The current Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, studied with me,” he said.
The visit of Indian naval ships to Singapore is viewed as an important step in strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries, while fostering a deeper mutual understanding between India and Singapore.
Click here for the full article.
Yousuf Rowther Rajid’s book ‘Journeys and Lessons’ will be officially launched on February 15th. The book highlights the stories of ten influential leaders from the Singapore Indian community.
The book launch event, organised by the Tamil Pattimandra Kalai Kazhagam and supported by Sree Narayana Mission, will take place at the Singapore Indian Association, located at 69 Balestier Road, at 4:00 PM.
Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, Dr.Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, will grace the occasion as the guest of honour.
All proceeds from the sales of this 300-page book will be donated to Sree Narayana Mission.
Click here for the full article.
SreeNarayana_Newsletter_136960 (1)
The Pongal celebrations organized by the Nee Soon Central Zone 3 Residents’ Committee took place on 19 January, with the aim of bringing together groups of people, including the young, the elderly, and individuals from different ethnic backgrounds.
Themed ‘Pongal for All: A Celebration of Unity Embracing Diversity’, the event was held at the ground floor of Blocks 602 and 603, Yishun Street 61.
During the Pongal competition, 10 teams competed against each other, with each team consisting of three members, each from a different ethnic group. The judges for the event were Rajeshwari, a culinary expert, and Bimal Ram, a senior journalist. The participants used firewood and clay pots in their preparations.
Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, attended the event and participated enthusiastically in the Uriyadi segment.
The event also featured a workshop on making a toran and a kolam-making session. Not only did attendees participate, but passersby who were near the event venue also showed interest in creating vibrant kolam decorations.
In addition to the approximately 180 attendees, 10 residents from Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home were invited to join in the celebrations.
One of the participants, 60-year-old Marie Ingui, expressed her enthusiasm for the event.
“This Pongal event has been a wake-up call for me. I participated in the cooking competition and was a little nervous until the milk spilled in the pot,” Mrs. Ingui said with a laugh.
The Event Organising Committee Chairman, Ramachandran Ashokumar, along with the Residents’ Committee Chairman, Shantha Raman, and the Nee Soon Central Charity Committee Chairman, Sukuna Ramasamy, all expressed their delight at the warm reception from the local residents.
Click here for the full article.
A special Chinese New Year luncheon was held at the Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road on Saturday, 18 January, for a total of 120 senior citizens from the Indian, Chinese, and Malay communities.
Seniors from four nursing homes – Sunlove Home, Sri Narayana Mission Nursing Home, Banyan Home @ Pelangi Village, and Chinatown Active Ageing Centre – mingles, laughed, and shared food with each other.
Ms. Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, and Second Minister for Home Affairs, attended this banquet as the Guest of Honour, which has been held for 23 years by the Hindu Endowments Board.
The banquet's entertainment featured a traditional Chinese lion dance, where two performers in a lion costume danced in sync, with their eyes and mouths opening and closing. It also included a Dhillana dance by Bharatanatyam artist Ganapathi Saroja.
The seniors were treated to Chinese vegetarian dishes lovingly prepared by volunteers. Seated at eighteen round tables, the elders celebrated the Year of the Snake by tossing the Yusheng.
Sri Mariamman Temple’s Chairman, Mr. Sekaran Krishnan, welcomed everyone, expressing his joy in continuing the tradition of bringing everyone together to celebrate the Chinese New Year at this historic temple.
“This is the first time I am hosting this event, and it is an honor. It’s a satisfying feeling to see seniors from different ethnic groups talking, laughing, and having fun,” said Kannan Govindaswamy, 52, a temple fund member and chairman of the organising committee.
He also mentioned that hundreds of volunteers had contributed to making this event possible.
“I have been volunteering for the past six years. My experience working in a hospital has given me the skills to take good care of the elderly,” said Thilagawathi, 61, a Singapore General Hospital employee and volunteer.
“It was a great experience to participate and contribute to the Chinese New Year event for the first time. It was nice to see the large gathering of elderly people who are so used to chatting among themselves in their homes and come together and be lively,” said Anusiya, 39, a volunteer and childcare teacher.
“I thought there would be Indian food since it was a Hindu temple. I was happy to see Chinese food. The lion dance and Indian dance were a feast for the eyes,” said Polly Fong from the Chinatown Active Ageing Centre.
Aadikal Ammal, 83, from Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home, shared her best wishes for a wonderful Chinese New Year for everyone.
All participants were given Ang Pows and oranges. They were also given gift bags containing 20 items each that were selected for seniors, including snacks, ankle braces, socks, and ointments.
Click here for the full article.