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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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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Elderly residents from Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home enjoyed a delightful visit to Little India, accompanied by young volunteers to celebrate Deepavali.
On Saturday, October 26, 15 elderly wheelchair users were warmly welcomed by young volunteers from the Rotary Club, who served meals on banana leaves at Little India Arcade.
Later, the group visited the Little India Bazaar and the Indian Heritage Centre, where both Indian and non-Indian elders had the opportunity to learn about various aspects of Indian culture.
At the end of the tour, the elders were given gift bags filled with various goodies. Radhika Pandiraj, 60, who has been residing at Sree Narayana Mission Nursing Home for two years, expressed her happiness about participating in the event.
Rajkumar Perumal, a member of the Rotary Club’s Executive Committee, said that the Rotary Club, with over 200 members, organises such charitable activities during Singapore’s major festivals.
“We hope to serve even more people in the coming years and warmly welcome anyone interested in community work to join us,” said Mr. Rajkumar.
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The Umar Pulavar Tamil High School Alumni Association hosted ‘Natpin Kalai Vizha 2024’ at Chua Soo Kang Safara on Saturday, October 5th, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Approximately 200 alumni attended the event, having purchased 40 silver admission tickets.
The attendees were taken back to their teenage years through music, dance, and drama with the help of artificial intelligence.
Six senior residents from Sree Narayan Mission also attended the event and expressed their affection and gratitude.
The school, originally established in 1946 by the Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League as Umar Pulavar Tamil School, began operating as Umar Pulavar Tamil High School on March 30, 1960, following the completion of a new three-story building.
It also holds the distinction of being the only Tamil high school in Singapore.
Although the school closed in 1982, former students still cherish their memories of studying together as if it were just yesterday.
“We used to participate in many speech competitions and dances. Our principal was very strict,” said Dr. Meenakshi Sabpati, who once studied at the school. “We were involved in groups like the magazine publishing team, scouting, first aid, and conservation but we never neglected our studies,” added Dr. Govindrasu.
The alumni association was founded in 1977.
“Every year, the alumni association organises an event like this,” said Rahmatullah, the Association’s President. “If former students try organising on their own, only a few will be able to reunite. But through this festival, we were able to bring many people together.” He also mentioned that the association helps identify alumni in need of support.
“Contacts given by attendees have been updated,” he added.
Vanitha Singharavelu, who attended the event, shared, “I was happy to reconnect with old friends after many years. The only person missing today is our teacher, who is no longer with us.”
“At that time, we considered our teacher to be like God,” said C. Gunasekaran, the secretary of the association, who also developed the AI-based programme for the event. “The teachers have shaped my life,” he added, quoting a line in Hindi, “जीवन भार मेरा की गाया है” (My life has been shaped by what I’ve learned).
Sheikh Usman from Malarkodi expressed the group’s sentiments: “The school environment was unique in itself. We were saddened by its closure.”
Tamil writers Thanalaetsumi, Sukunabai, and Thanapakyam also shared their experiences: “We looked up to our teacher, M. Thangarasan, as an example. He told stories in such an engaging way that we were inspired to become Tamil writers ourselves, which greatly improved our writing skills.”
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