The theme for this year’s Tamil New Year and Indian Culture Fiesta, organised by the Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association (LISHA), is the ancient poet and philosopher, Avvaiyar. However, a more pronounced and recurring theme that has been growing over the years at this annual event, has been the celebration of inclusivity and diversity.
“We discovered that there are close to 20 Indian communities in Singapore, and this year we managed to reach out to 16 of them,” LISHA general manager Abdul Raoof said.
“This is the first time we included the Bangladeshi community. And we intend to expand this number to more than 16 in the coming years,” he added.
…there are close to 20 Indian communities in Singapore, and this year we managed to reach out to 16 … we intend to expand this number to more than 16 in the coming years…”
– LISHA general manager Abdul Raoof
Thirukkural writing contest for migrant workers
For the first time also, LISHA is tailoring an event for the Tamil-speaking migrant worker community. Over 100 Tamil-speaking migrant workers will be invited to participate in a live-streamed, Thirukkural writing contest.
Each participant will be tasked to write 10 couplets of Thirukural and Athichudi on morals and values. A few migrant workers will be selected to share on how the learnings from Thirukural and Athichudi can help them cope with life in a foreign land. The contestants who narrate their experiences best will win NTUC vouchers sponsored by the Migrant Workers’ Centre.
The event will be held on the 23rd of April 2023.
Assistant Director (Stakeholder Relationships) with the Migrant Workers’ Centre, R V Sathish Naidu, said: “We are very honoured and pleased to partner LISHA for the very first time in this year’s Tamil New Year and Indian Culture Fiesta. The Thirukural writing contest shows our commitment to engage and integrate them as part of our community as well as offer a platform to showcase and unearth their hidden talents.”
Other highlights and events of this year’s celebrations include:
Street banners celebrating Avvaiyar
When: 1 to 30 April, 2023
Where: Along Serangoon Road
Sixty-four street banners, each featuring a proverb by Avvaiyar in English and Tamil, will be displayed on both sides of Serangoon Road.
Ethnic Indian food trails
When: 8, 15 & 29 April, 2023, 3 to 5 pm
Where: Gayathri, Junior Kuppana, Flavours, Shivam and Nagarkovil Aarya Bavan restaurants
Five restaurants in Little India will allow visitors to sample their range of finger food for $10. To help visitors learn more about the food they are tasting, there will be writeups on them.
Sunset Street Yoga
When: 8 & 15 April, 2023, 5.30 to 6 pm
Where: Campbell Lane (outside the Indian Heritage Centre)
Yoga master Jeevan will lead participants in yoga sessions as the sun sets. The exercises will not put any stress on the knees. Participants will be required to bring their own yoga mats. Alternatively, they
can purchase them at the venue. Interested participants are encouraged to pre-register for this free event. However, walk-ins are also allowed. Participants will be given bottled water. They also stand to win cash voucher prizes.
Indian cultural fiesta
When: 15 April, 2023, 7 to 10 pm
Where: Birch Road (open field)
This free event will feature dance performances by 15 Indian communities – Bangladeshi, Malayalee, Malwa, Punjabi, Maharashtra, Hindi, Sindhi, Kannada, Indian Peranakan, Gujarati, Marwari, Bengali, Indian Muslims, and Tamil, each lasting about five minutes. Around 800 to 1 000 guests are expected for this three-hour show, which will be hosted in English.
Public speaking workshop in Tamil for students
When: 16 April, 2023, 9 am to 12 pm
Where: Birch Road (open field)
Popular public orator Barathi Chandrasekaran from India will conduct this workshop for students, with a view to helping them gain confidence in speaking in public and in Tamil. Students will be split into smaller groups for practice and presentation. They will also have an opportunity to win cash voucher prizes. Around 50 students are expected to attend.
Chithirai Kalai Vizha
When: 16 April, 2023, 7 to 10 pm
Where: Birch Road (open field)
Popular public orator Bharathi Chandrasekaran will share about Avvaiyar and her writings for an hour. This free event will also features classical dances and songs. Between 800 and 1 000 guests are expected to attend.
Indian ethnic exhibition
When: 15 to 23 April, 2023, 9 am to 6 pm
Where: Birch Road (open field)
Fifteen Indian communities will be showcased in this exhibition, with specific focus on a food item that they are known for.
‘Joy of Tradition’ programme
When: 17 to 21 April, 2023, 12 to 2 pm
Where: Birch Road (open field)
This five-day program aims to educate the general public on the uniqueness of the various Indian cultures in Singapore. There will be hands on activities such as learning Tamil calligraphy with rice flour, creating rangolis with coloured powders, playing traditional Indian games, learning to drape sarees and learning a few steps of traditional Indian dances like the Bangra. Visitors can also visit the Indian ethnic exhibition after these activities.
School learning experience
When: 17 to 25 April, 2023, 2 to 5 pm
Where: Birch Road (open field)
This five-day program for upper primary and secondary school students includes a guided tour of the Indian ethnic exhibition, Tamil calligraphy using rice flour, creating rangolis with coloured powders, playing traditional Indian games, learning to drape sarees, and learning traditional Indian dances like Bangra. Between 20 and 30 schools are expected to send their students to this event.
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