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.
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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.
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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.
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With an aim to share the spirit of Pongal with the community, the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA) organised an event on Tuesday (January 14) to mark the Pongal festival.
The event gathered 60 elderly individuals from nursing homes like Jamiyah Nursing Home, Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home, and Sanlove Home to celebrate Pongal.
We organize this event annually to engage the elderly in Pongal celebrations and provide an opportunity for people from diverse ethnic backgrounds to experience our culture,” said Raghunath Siva, president of LISHA.
Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs & National Development, attended the event as the Guest of Honour. He joined everyone for the meal, took photos, and interacted with the attendees. Additionally, he presented each person with packets containing $20 and gift bags prepared by the organisers, while extending his warm wishes for a happy Pongal.
As part of the event, Pongal was prepared in a traditional earthen pot, accompanied by the rhythm of traditional South Indian music.
“Every festival we celebrate in Singapore is a celebration of our people and our nation,” Dr. Faishal told Tamil Murasu.
He noted that the Pongal event provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the festival as one united Singaporean community, transcending race, language, or religion, and was filled with camaraderie and a spirit of sharing. He also encouraged Singaporeans to continue the tradition of giving back to the community.
In another event organised by LISHA, free pongal was distributed to the public outside the Little India Arcade in the evening. The event is expected to serve approximately 10,000 people this year, from January 14 to 16.
Although the event was delayed by half an hour due to heavy rain, hundreds of people still gathered.
The Pongal distributed was prepared at three temples—Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, and Sri Siva Durga Temple—and brought to Little India Arcade.
The event provided an opportunity for both Singaporeans and tourists to taste traditional Indian desserts and celebrate the Pongal festive season together.
Arvind, a foreign worker based in Jurong East who had come to Little India after work, said the Pongal served reminded him of his home in India.
“This is our first time attending the Pongal festival in Little India. Since my daughter’s father is Indian, we’re especially happy to experience the traditional Indian music and food here,” said Stella, 38, a painter and children’s author, who attended the event with her daughter.
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