In celebration of Deepavali, Mediacorp organised a special event at the Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home.
Mediacorp staff, together with 20 residents of the nursing home, created festive Deepavali decorations, which will be used to brighten up the premises.
The event aimed to bring the spirit of Deepavali to the elderly residents and provide them with meaningful companionship during the festive season.
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Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. K. Shanmugam, has said that racial and religious harmony in Singapore should not be taken for granted. He was speaking at the 85th anniversary celebration of the Parish of Christ Church in Little India.
“The law will maintain peace; social and religious leaders should unite people,” said Mr. Shanmugam. He added that the church’s good works help maintain unity among Singaporeans.
The event was held at Coastal Gardens last night. Minister Shanmugam and Mr. Alvin Tan, Minister of State for National Development and Minister of State for Trade and Industry, were in attendance. The CEOs of SINDA and Sree Narayana Mission were also present.
The programme featured various elements, including prayer, dancing, and singing.
Christ Church, located on Dorset Road, has a long history, as described by Pastor Steven Ashirvathama. It was founded on October 18, 1940, and was the first Anglican church established for Tamils in Singapore.
During World War II, the church was the target of a three-day artillery bombardment. It was severely damaged and later restored in the early 1960s.
Today, the church stands as one of Singapore’s national monuments.
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Following the announcement by Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, of the nation’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, his first public appearance took place on 12 September that year at the former Sree Narayana Mission complex in Sembawang.
“Never fear,” he declared in a firm voice to all Singaporeans.
Even after six decades, that poignant moment remains etched in the nation’s memory. In fact, with that historic occasion as its focus, a segment on religious harmony was held on Sunday (7 September) at the Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home in Yishun, as part of Singapore’s 60th anniversary commemorations.
Centred on the theme ‘Oneness in Humanity’, the discussion brought together five representatives from different faith-based organisations — Catholic Welfare Services, Ren Ci Hospital, Jamiyah Singapore, the Ramakrishna Mission and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society — along with a member of SNM’s Board of Trustees. The dialogue was chaired by religious reconciliation moderator Nazhath Faheema.
The event was held in conjunction with the 171st Guru Jayanthi celebration, marking the birth anniversary of Sree Narayana Guru.
The panel exchanged views on issues such as the challenges faced by social service organisations, their responsibilities to the community, and how best to meet the needs of their beneficiaries.
Following the discussion, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment, as well as for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Goh Hanyan, attended the celebration as Guest of Honour.
“This auspicious day, which commemorates the teachings and ideals of Sree Narayana Guru, is also closely tied to Singapore’s journey. We are one united community, regardless of background. This dialogue was a platform to strengthen that unity,” said Ms Goh.
During the event, it was also announced that the Singapore Indian Education Trust will provide educational grants to healthcare workers at the Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home to support their professional development. To this end, the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“Narayana Guru’s teachings transcend religion. He translated his philosophy into practical action that benefitted society. Through discussions on religious harmony, we seek to share his message with the wider community,” said Mr Jayadev Unnithan, former President of Sree Narayana Mission.
“We hold the Guru Jayanthi celebrations every year to reaffirm our commitment to his teachings. This year’s commemoration goes beyond marking Guru Jayanthi; it also reflects the spirit of 1965. Our racial harmony and tolerance are Singapore’s true treasures,” added Mr S Devendran, Chief Executive Officer of Sree Narayana Mission.
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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said that Singapore’s way is to treat every festival as a multicultural celebration and to celebrate it together.
He made this statement while addressing the Deepavali Light-Up ceremony on Saturday (6 September) evening at the ‘Grand Stand’ stage set up in front of the Little India Arcade, where he was the Guest of Honour.
He noted that the participation of not only the diverse Indian community but also other multi-racial communities showcased Singapore’s diversity.
The President emphasised that at the moment the lamps are lit, we should remember to show understanding and compassion towards one another and remain united.
He further said: “The spirit of Deepavali is to recognise the light within each individual, to be a guiding light for the underprivileged, and to unite and uplift everyone.”
The festival, organised by the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA), was held on a grand scale with thousands of special guests, foreign representatives, and members of the public taking part.
From now until 9 November, Little India will be illuminated for 64 days, offering a visual feast for visitors.
This year, in celebration of Singapore’s 60th birthday, 600,000 LED lights have been installed, along with 42 decorative arches spanning a two-kilometre stretch from the Little India shopping complex.
The theme of this year’s Deepavali celebrations is Attam, Pattam, Kondattam.
The lighting ceremony was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan; Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and for Manpower, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash; Minister of State for National Development, and for Trade and Industry, Mr Alvin Tan; Mayor of Central Singapore District, Ms Denise Phua; as well as several foreign ambassadors.
President Tharman presented mementoes to nearly 20 community organisations that had contributed to the Deepavali celebrations. Meanwhile, various organisations and temples, including the Hindu Endowments Board, raised $100,000 for the President’s Challenge and presented a cheque to the President.
Adding to this year’s celebrations, the colourful Utsavam road parade returned after many years. For the first time, the entire stretch of Serangoon Road was closed for the occasion.
More than 700 people from 25 multi-ethnic, social and artistic organisations took part in the parade, which began at around 7.30 pm.
Notably, 23 seniors aged between 63 and 94 from Sree Narayana Mission participated as a contingent. The youngest performers were four-year-old dancers from the Apsaras Arts troupe.
This year’s parade also featured young artists, beneficiaries and volunteers from SINDA, who took part under the theme Let’s Move Forward, Together – A Journey with SINDA. The segment marked the official launch of SINDA’s annual Project Give initiative.
The parade commenced from Hastings Road and concluded at Birch Road. At 8.15 pm, President Tharman and other distinguished guests boarded a specially designed peacock-shaped float and travelled along the route.
As part of the Deepavali festivities, LISHA has also organised a variety of events and activities in collaboration with partners, running until 11 November. More details are available at www.deepavalisg.com.
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