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Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Consecration ceremony held at one of oldest Hindu temple in Singapore
More than 20,000 devotees attended the consecration ceremony at the Sri Sivan Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore with a history dating back to the 1800s. Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Sunday joined the devotees at the temple popularly known as Geylang East Temple in the suburban housing estates. Shanmugam, the guest of honour at the ceremony, told the media: 'Today's consecration ceremony is very significant. This temple itself has a very special place in the heart of the Hindu community in Singapore.' Shanmugam unveiled a plaque commemorating the consecration ceremony. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple from 7 am, eagerly waiting for the main event, a Maha Kumbhabishegam or 'grand consecration'. It is the process of pouring sanctified water from vessels on the roof of the temple. These vessels, called kumbhams, are filled with holy water and energised through chanting of sacred Sanskrit mantras over seven consecutive days. From around 7.30 am, chants and traditional music filled the air as the procession of priests holding kumbhams headed to the roof of the temple. Thousands of devotees followed the elaborate proceedings via large screens showing a multi-camera live stream of the priests pouring the sacred water cascading from 22 golden 'kalasams' or pinnacles at the peak of the temple structure. However, the over-eager crowd at times threatened to break through barricades set up to control people entering the temple after the main ceremony ended, The Straits Times reported. At around 11.30 am, part of the crowd bulged out of barricades at one of the tents as organisers and volunteers implored in Tamil for people to stop pushing, according to the report. The crowd, which had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray, dissipated after the police were called to the site at Geylang East Avenue 2. According to the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB), assistance was rendered to a few, but no injuries were reported during the event. More volunteers were deployed, and the HEB 'subsequently sought the assistance of the police to quickly bring the situation under control'. This was the third such consecration for the temple, which started on a parcel of land in Orchard Road in 1868, then relocated to temporary premises in 1983, before moving to its current location in Geylang East in 1993. This year, the temple underwent a refurbishment and saw all its sculptural features restored and deity sanctums refurbished. Other upgrades included expanding prayer spaces to cater to the growing congregation and renovating the existing multi-purpose hall, among other areas. The temple will hold 48 days of prayers, rituals and cultural programmes from June 9 to July 26.
New Paper
17 hours ago
- General
- New Paper
Over 20,000 devotees attend Sri Sivan Temple consecration, crowd almost breaks through barricades
More than 20,000 devotees gathered to witness the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. The Geylang East temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, has a history that dates back to the 1800s. The event was attended by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, the ceremony's guest of honour said: "Today's consecration ceremony is very significant. This temple itself has a very special place in the heart of the Hindu community in Singapore." Mr Shanmugam unveiled a plaque commemorating the consecration ceremony. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple from 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event - a Maha Kumbhabishegam ("grand consecration" in Sanskrit). It refers to the process of pouring sanctified water from vessels on the roof of the temple. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple by 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event - a Maha Kumbhabishegam ("grand consecration" in Sanskrit). ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY From around 7.30am, chants and traditional music filled the air as a procession of priests holding pots of sacred water, known as kumbhams, headed to the roof of the temple. Thousands of devotees followed the elaborate proceedings via large screens showing a multi-camera live stream of the priests pouring purified water, which cascaded from 22 golden "kalasams" or pinnacles at the peak of the temple structure. Madam Navamany Gopalkrishnan, 68, was among the faithful who managed to get seats for the grand occasion two weeks ago. "If I am in the country, I never miss a temple's consecration… and this is the biggest one I have been to," said the retired caterer. However, the over-eager crowd at times threatened to break through barricades that had been set up to control people entering the temple after the main ceremony ended. At around 11.30am, at one of the tents, part of the crowd bulged out of barricades as organisers and volunteers implored in Tamil for people to stop pushing. The crowd, which had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray, dissipated after the police were called to the site at Geylang East Avenue 2. The crowd, which had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray, dissipated after the police were called to the site at Geylang East Avenue 2. PHOTO: TAMIL MURASU Two young children were pulled out from the crowd and given seats and water by volunteers, while a medic was seen attending to a man. Among those stuck in the queue was Madam Kumari Muthu, 63, a nurse who had been at the site from 5.30am. "The pushing was terrible… I have never experienced anything like this before," she said. "I was so afraid they were going to push all the old people; next time, there should be separate queues for men, and women, the elderly and children." The crowd let up once the police arrived at around noon, and dispersed within 45 minutes. In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) said it was alerted to an incident at the consecration ceremony "which arose from a sudden surge in a particular section of the crowd waiting to enter the temple for prayers". HEB said assistance was rendered to a few who required it, but no injuries were reported. More volunteers were deployed, and it "subsequently sought the assistance of the police to quickly bring the situation under control". The statement added: "HEB takes this matter seriously and is reviewing the incident thoroughly. While this was an isolated occurrence amid an otherwise well-conducted ceremony attended by about 20,000 devotees, HEB remains committed to enhancing its crowd management protocols. "HEB will draw on the lessons from this experience to strengthen our preparations for future large-scale events, ensuring the safety and well-being of all devotees." Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam (third from right) at the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY This was the third such consecration for the temple, which started on a parcel of land in Orchard Road in 1868, then relocated to temporary premises in 1983, before moving to its current location in Geylang East in 1993. Its second consecration ceremony in 2008 drew 15,000 devotees. The third consecration, which was supposed to happen 12 years later, was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In line with the 2025 ceremony, the temple underwent a refurbishment that saw all its sculptural features restored and deity sanctums refurbished. Other upgrades included expanding prayer spaces to cater to the growing congregation and renovating the existing multi-purpose hall, among other areas. Following the consecration, the temple will hold 48 days of prayers, rituals and cultural programmes from June 9 to July 26.
AsiaOne
20 hours ago
- General
- AsiaOne
Over 20,000 devotees attend Sri Sivan Temple consecration, crowd almost breaks through barricades, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - More than 20,000 devotees gathered to witness the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. The Geylang East temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, has a history that dates back to the 1800s. The event was attended by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, the ceremony's guest of honour said: 'Today's consecration ceremony is very significant. This temple itself has a very special place in the heart of the Hindu community in Singapore.' Mr Shanmugam unveiled a plaque commemorating the consecration ceremony. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple from 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event – a Maha Kumbhabishegam ('grand consecration' in Sanskrit). It refers to the process of pouring sanctified water from vessels on the roof of the temple. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple by 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event – a Maha Kumbhabishegam ('grand consecration' in Sanskrit). PHOTO: The Straits Times From around 7.30am, chants and traditional music filled the air as a procession of priests holding pots of sacred water, known as kumbhams, headed to the roof of the temple. Thousands of devotees followed the elaborate proceedings via large screens showing a multi-camera live stream of the priests pouring purified water, which cascaded from 22 golden 'kalasams' or pinnacles at the peak of the temple structure. Madam Navamany Gopalkrishnan, 68, was among the faithful who managed to get seats for the grand occasion two weeks ago. 'If I am in the country, I never miss a temple's consecration… and this is the biggest one I have been to,' said the retired caterer. However, the over-eager crowd at times threatened to break through barricades that had been set up to control people entering the temple after the main ceremony ended. At around 11.30am, at one of the tents, part of the crowd bulged out of barricades as organisers and volunteers implored in Tamil for people to stop pushing. The crowd, which had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray, dissipated after the police were called to the site at Geylang East Avenue 2. The crowd, which had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray, dissipated after the police were called to the site at Geylang East Avenue 2. PHOTO: Tamil Murasu Two young children were pulled out from the crowd and given seats and water by volunteers, while a medic was seen attending to a man. Among those stuck in the queue was Madam Kumari Muthu, 63, a nurse who had been at the site from 5.30am. 'The pushing was terrible… I have never experienced anything like this before,' she said. 'I was so afraid they were going to push all the old people; next time, there should be separate queues for men, and women, the elderly and children.' The crowd let up once the police arrived at around noon, and dispersed within 45 minutes. In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) said it was alerted to an incident at the consecration ceremony 'which arose from a sudden surge in a particular section of the crowd waiting to enter the temple for prayers'. HEB said assistance was rendered to a few who required it, but no injuries were reported. More volunteers were deployed, and it 'subsequently sought the assistance of the police to quickly bring the situation under control'. The statement added: 'HEB takes this matter seriously and is reviewing the incident thoroughly. While this was an isolated occurrence amid an otherwise well-conducted ceremony attended by about 20,000 devotees, HEB remains committed to enhancing its crowd management protocols. 'HEB will draw on the lessons from this experience to strengthen our preparations for future large-scale events, ensuring the safety and well-being of all devotees.' Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam (third from right) at the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. PHOTO: The Straits Times This was the third such consecration for the temple, which started on a parcel of land in Orchard Road in 1868, then relocated to temporary premises in 1983, before moving to its current location in Geylang East in 1993. Its second consecration ceremony in 2008 drew 15,000 devotees. The third consecration, which was supposed to happen 12 years later, was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In line with the 2025 ceremony, the temple underwent a refurbishment that saw all its sculptural features restored and deity sanctums refurbished. Other upgrades included expanding prayer spaces to cater to the growing congregation and renovating the existing multi-purpose hall, among other areas. Following the consecration, the temple will hold 48 days of prayers, rituals and cultural programmes from June 9 to July 26. This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
The Star
a day ago
- General
- The Star
Over 20,000 devotees attend Sri Sivan Temple consecration in Singapore, crowd almost breaks through barricades
Priests holding 'kumbhams' – vessels filled with holy water – as they make their way to the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8, 2025. - Photo: ST SINGAPORE: Over 20,000 devotees gathered to witness the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on Sunday (June 8). The Geylang East temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, has a history that dates to the 1800s. The event was attended by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam. Speaking to media on the sidelines of the event, the ceremony's guest of honour said: 'Today's consecration ceremony is very significant. This temple itself has a very special place in the heart of the Hindu community in Singapore.' Shanmugam unveiled a plaque commemorating the consecration ceremony. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple by 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event – a Maha Kumbhabishegam ('grand consecration' in Sanskrit). It refers to the process of pouring sanctified water from vessels on the roof of the temple. From around 7.30am, chants and traditional music filled the air as a procession of priests holding pots of sacred water, known as kumbhams, headed to the roof of the temple. Thousands of devotees followed the elaborate proceedings via large screens showing a multi-camera live stream of the priests pouring purified water, which cascaded from 22 golden 'kalasams' or pinnacles at the peak of the temple structure. Navamany Gopalkrishnan, 68, was among the faithful who managed to get seats for the grand occasion two weeks ago. 'If I am in the country, I never miss a temple's consecration… and this is the biggest one I've been to,' said the retired caterer. However, the over-eager crowd at times threatened to break through barricades that had been set up to control people entering the temple after the main ceremony ended. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple by 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event – a Maha Kumbhabishegam ('grand consecration' in Sanskrit). - Photo: ST At around 11.30am, at one of the tents, part of the crowd bulged out of barricades as organisers and volunteers implored in Tamil for people to stop pushing. The crowd, which had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray, dissipated after the police were called to the site at Geylang East Avenue 2. Two young children were pulled out from the crowd and given seats and water by volunteers, while a medic was seen attending to a man. Among those stuck in the queue was Kumari Muthu, 63, a nurse who had been on site from 5.30am. 'The pushing was terrible… I've never experienced anything like this before,' said Madam Kumari. 'I was so afraid they were going to push all the old people; next time, there should be separate queues for men, and women, elderly and children.' The crowd let up once the police arrived at around noon and dispersed within 45 minutes. The Straits Times has contacted the Hindu Endowments Board, which manages the temple, for comment on the crowd. This was the third such consecration for the temple, which started on a parcel of land in Orchard Road in 1868, then relocated to temporary premises in 1983 before moving to its current location in Geylang East in 1993. Its second consecration ceremony in 2008 drew 15,000 devotees. The third consecration, which was supposed to happen 12 years later, was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In line with the 2025 ceremony, the temple underwent a refurbishment that saw all its sculptural features restored and deity sanctums refurbished. Other upgrades included expanding prayer spaces to cater to the growing congregation and renovating the existing multi-purpose hall, among other areas. Following the consecration, the temple will hold 48 days of prayers, rituals and cultural programmes from June 9 to July 26. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Over 20,000 devotees attend Sri Sivan Temple consecration, crowds almost break through barricades
Priests holding golden 'kalasams' or pinnacles as they make their way to the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE - Over 20,000 devotees gathered to witness the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. The Geylang East temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, has a history that dates to the 1800s. The event was attended by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Mr K Shanmugam. Speaking to media on the sidelines of the event, the ceremony's guest of honour said: 'Today's consecration ceremony is very significant. This temple itself has a very special place in the heart of the Hindu community in Singapore.' He unveiled a plaque commemorating the consecration ceremony. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple by 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event - a Maha Kumbhabishegam ('grand consecration' in Sanskrit). It refers to the process of pouring sanctified water from vessels on the roof of the temple. Devotees began streaming into purpose-built tents outside the temple by 7am, waiting eagerly for the main event - a Maha Kumbhabishegam ('grand consecration' in Sanskrit). ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY From around 8am, chants and traditional music filled the air as a procession of priests holding pots of sacred water headed to the temple roof. The thousands of devotees followed the elaborate proceedings via large screens showing a multi-camera live stream of the priests pouring purified water, which cascaded down from 22 golden 'kalasams' or pinnacles at the peak of the temple structure. Madam Navamany Gopalkrishnan, 68, was among the faithful who had managed to get seats to the grand occasion two weeks ago. 'If I am in the country, I never miss a temple's consecration…and this is the biggest one I've been for,' said the retired caterer. However, the over-eager crowd at times threatened to break through barricades that had been set up to control people entering the temple after the main ceremony concluded. At around 11.30am, at one of the tents, crowds bulged out of barricades as organisers and volunteers implored in Tamil for people to stop pushing. The crowds who had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray dissipated after police were called to the site at Geylang East Ave 2. The crowds who had been waiting to enter the sanctum to pray dissipated after police were called to the site at Geylang East Ave 2. PHOTO: TAMIL MURASU Two young children had been pulled out of the crowd and given seats and water by volunteers, while another man was seen being attended to by a medic. Among those stuck in the queue was Madam Kumari Muthu, 63, a nurse who had been on site from 5.30am. 'The pushing was terrible…I've never experienced anything like this before,' said Madam Kumari. 'I was so afraid they were going to push all the old people especially, next time they should have separate queues for men, and women, elderly and children.' Crowds let up once police arrived on site from around noon, and dissipated within 45 minutes . ST has contacted the Hindu Endowments Board, which manages the temple, for comment. Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Mr K Shanmugam (third from right) at the consecration of the Sri Sivan Temple on June 8. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY This was the third such consecration for the temple, which started off on a parcel in Orchard Road in 1868, and relocated to a temporary premises in 1983 before moving to its current location in Geylang East in 1993. Its second consecration ceremony in 2008 drew 15,000 devotees. The third consecration, which was supposed to happen 12 years later, was disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Anjali Raguraman is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She covers politics, as well as consumer stories spanning tourism, retail and F&B. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
