WE LOVE

AN ICONIC
SINGAPORE DISH
REGARDLESS
OF ETHNICITY
A publication of the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle ISSUE 11.2016

FACES & PLACES

HELPING
HANDS FOR
HARMONY
REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
IN SINGAPORE STRESS THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING A
GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE FAITHS

INSIGHTS THE ROLE OF FASTING IN DIFFERENT RELIGIONS CITY BEATS HARI RAYA PUASA AND MORE
 A publication of the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle
3
5
CITY BEATS
FESTIVAL & COMMUNITY CALENDAR
ON HIGH ALERT – SECURITY AND YOU
FACES & PLACES
6 FAITH IN HARMONY
Religious groups that are promoting unity
with a proactive approach to help members
of public understand them better
10 SINGAPORE’S ECO-TEMPLE
Poh Ern Shih Temple is one of Singapore’s
pioneering ‘green buildings’
INSIGHTS
12 KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE
Zoroastrians are members of one of
the world’s oldest-surviving faiths
13 FAITH-DRIVEN FASTING
The role of fasting in different religions
WE LOVE
14 HEADS UP
Fish Head Curry is an iconic Singapore dish
15 ODE TO THE MOON
The Mid-Autumn Festival has spread beyond
its Chinese origins
CLUE ME IN
16 IT’S QUIZ TIME!
Read this issue and win!
Dear Readers
Marked on all school calendars in
the second half of the year is a very
important date – July 21. Known
as Racial Harmony Day, it’s when
students are encouraged to turn
up for school dressed in ethnic
clothes. Unique to Singapore, this is
a special day set aside to celebrate
our racial and religious diversity,
and our unwavering commitment
to treasure different traditions as
we strive for continued peace
and prosperity. In some places,
Singaporeans recite the Declaration
of Religious Harmony. We share the
full text of this with you on page 3.
While the efforts to uphold
racial and religious harmony come
from different institutions, agencies
and individuals, we single out
several passionate individuals from
prominent religious institutions
to highlight the wonderful work
they have done in the promotion
of interfaith understanding.
Read about why they are our
strong advocates on page 6.
2
CONTENTS
06
10
Elsewhere, we provide insights
into Zoroastrianism (page 12) and
the role of fasting in different
traditions (page 13). On a light-
hearted note, we dish up the
much-loved fish head curry to
tempt readers with its local versions
that can only be created here
(page 14). On page 15, readers can
Publishing and design consultant: Mediacorp Pte Ltd
re-live their imagination through the
stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
This is another journey in the
IRCCs’ pursuit of a lasting harmony
in Singapore. With your support,
we are confident more people
will join us in our programmes.
Feel free to write to us if you
think there is more that we can
share in the next issue. Till the
next issue, take care!
12
14
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON
Ms Leo Kwang Lin
Woodlands IRCC
MEMBERS
Mr Bernard Chiang, PBM
Braddell Heights IRCC
Mr Chia Keng Hian, BBM, PB, PBS, CStJ
Kampong Glam IRCC
Mr Abdul Rashid Bin Ibrahim
Tampines Changkat IRCC
Mr Albert Lee
Telok Blangah IRCC
Mr Chandraseharan Vijayakumar
Sree Ramar Temple representative
Mr David Choo Yong Kee, PBM
Toa Payoh East-Novena IRCC
Ms Shamala Gopalakrishnan
Youth member
Ms Nasuha Selamat
Youth member
DISCLAIMER
No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any form without prior written consent of
the IRCC Newsletter Editorial Committee.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the
contents of this publication are correct and
up-to-date at time of printing. Some details
are liable to change. All information is accurate
at time of printing. All rights reserved.
Printers: KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd
SHARE YOUR VIEWS!
Share your views and feedback with us!
/ IRCC SG
To join our IRCC mailing list, please head over
to our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/
SGIRCC/ and send message with your
details or mail your details to:
IRCC Newsletter Editorial Committee c/o
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Community Relations and Engagement Division
140 Hill Street #02-00 Singapore 179369
 ISSUE 11.2016
CITY BEATS
www.ircc.sg

WED 29 JUN

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Catholics observe the feast days of both Saint Peter and
Saint Paul on the same day in honour of their martyrdom
in Rome. Legend has it that they were executed on the
same day under the orders of the Roman Emperor Nero,
who ruled from 55 to 68 AD. Both men are believed to WED 6 JULY
be responsible for spreading the Christian message in
the early days of the church. Saint Paul was beheaded and Hari Raya Puasa
Saint Peter was crucified upside down, at his own request, Muslims worldwide celebrate Hari Raya
as he claimed he was not worthy to be sacrificed in the Puasa or the festival of Eid, marking the
same manner as Jesus Christ. end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a period of self-restraint and
change; a time to cleanse the body and
soul by re-focusing one’s self on the
worship of God and charity to mankind.
During this month, Muslims fast from
dawn to dusk and also make the obligatory
zakat fitrah (religious tithe) donation to
help the needy. Hari Raya Puasa is a joyous
affair and a time for forgiveness. It falls
on the first day of the 10th month of the
Islamic calendar and should
not be mistaken for
the Islamic New Year.

festival

YOUR GUIDE
calendar

TO NOTEWORTHY EVENTS THIS QUARTER

THU 21 JULY
TUE 19 JULY
Racial Harmony Day
Asalha Puja Day Singaporeans commemorate Racial Harmony Day as a nod to its
Asalha Puja, also known multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society. The day was officiated
as Dharma Day, usually in 1997 as part of the Ministry of Education’s National Education
falls in July and is one of programme for schools. Celebrations are also conducted by
Theravada Buddhism’s various communities across Singapore as young and old pledge
to strengthen race relations. Last year at the Community Leaders’
most important festivals.
Conference on 4 October, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stressed
It celebrates Buddha’s first
that racial and religious harmony is “always a work in progress”. He
sermon — often referred said, “We’ve got to actively preserve our racial harmony in Singapore.”
to as “setting into motion
the wheel of dharma” — THE DECLARATION OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY
which was delivered after his We, the people in Singapore, declare that religious harmony is vital for
peace, progress and prosperity in our multi-racial and multi-religious Nation.
Enlightenment. It teaches four
We resolve to strengthen religious harmony through mutual tolerance,
noble truths that form the central confidence, respect, and understanding.
doctrine of Buddhism. They are: there is suffering We shall always
(dukkha); suffering is caused by craving (tanha); there is a Recognise the secular nature of our State,
state beyond suffering and craving (nirvana); and finally, Promote cohesion within our society,
the way to nirvana via the eight-fold path. Asalha Puja is Respect each other’s freedom of religion,
typically observed by donating offerings to the temples, Grow our common space while respecting our diversity,
listening to sermons, observing precepts and meditating. Foster inter-religious communications,
and thereby ensure that religion will not be abused to create conflict
and disharmony in Singapore.

3
 CITY BEATS

FRI 5 AUGUST
Sri Vinayagar Chaturthi
Sri Vinayagar Chaturthi is a 10-day Hindu
festival celebrated to honour the elephant-
headed Lord Vinayagar’s birthday. Vinayagar
(also known as Ganesha) is the god of arts
and sciences, and represents wisdom. Often
a grand event, the festival is observed on
the fourth day of the first fortnight (Shukla
Chaturthi) in the month of Bhaadrapada
(or Aavani in Tamil) in the Hindu calendar
(usually August or September in the
Gregorian calendar). Hindus traditionally
install and worship clay models of Lord
Vinayagar in public and at home. At the end
of the festival, the idols are immersed in a
body of water such as a sea, lake or pond.
WED 17 AUGUST
Hungry Ghost Festival
This is observed throughout the seventh month of the Chinese lunar
calendar by many Taoists and Chinese Singaporeans, who pay respects
to their ancestors and make offerings to the souls of the dead who
are believed to roam the Earth during this period. Many offer food,
drinks and paper items (such as
stacks of ‘hell money’) as a way to
tend to their late family members’
material needs in the afterlife.
Performances such as Chinese
operas or getai shows – for the
spirits’ entertainment – are also put
up around Singapore.

MON 29 AUGUST – TUE 6 SEPTEMBER

Paryushana/Daslakshani
Unlike other festivals, the Jain festival of
Paryushana Parva is about reflecting on
one’s Chitta (state of being) rather than
celebrating through sensory excitement.
During this period, Jains try to focus on
the enrichment of the inner self. On the
last day of the festival, Jains perform
prayers called Pratikraman (‘to return to
one’s centre’). On this day, they reflect
on their actions, words and thoughts that
may have brought harm to living beings.
They bow down and say “Micchami
Dukkadum” to ask for forgiveness for
any pain or suffering caused.

community
events
SAT 10 SEPTEMBER

ORANGE RIBBON RUN

– Race Against Racism
Held annually, the Orange Ribbon Run rallies the
community to make a stand against racism and
promote understanding, appreciation and trust
in Singapore’s multi-cultural and multi-religious
society. Since the 1990s, the
Orange Ribbon has been adopted
by countries and groups of
individuals as the symbol of
harmony, equality and freedom.
In Singapore, the Orange Ribbon
is adopted as a symbol of
respect, understanding, trust and
friendship. The run is a signature
event of OnePeople.sg, an
organisation that champions racial
harmony in Singapore. To join, visit
www.raceagainstracism.sg

4
 ISSUE 11.2016
CITY BEATS
‘Like’ IRCC SG on Facebook

LOCAL
The threat to Singapore has
INCREASED STEADILY
over the years

A matter of 'WHEN', not 'if'

GLOBAL AND REGIONAL A need for Singaporeans to better protect ourselves
New phase of terrorism –  hreat of a terrorist
T
SIMULTANEOUS attack is at its ENGAGE SENSITISE TRAIN ORGANISE
ATTACKS HIGHEST LEVEL
across different locations MOBILISE EXERCISE

ON
THE RECENT SPATE OF TERROR
ATTACKS WORLDWIDE UNDERLINES
THE NEED FOR GREATER VIGILANCE.

HIGH ALERT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

THE TAMPINES GRC IBX
WAS HELD ON 18 MARCH
2016 AT LIVING HOPE
METHODIST CHURCH.
1 2 3
stay stay stay
alert united strong

 errorists
T
 e vigilant —
B may cause
look out for fear, weaken
potential security resilience, brew
threats, unusual distrust among
behaviour  e cohesive
B communities
WHAT IRCC HAS BEEN DOING or items during
 RISIS PREPAREDNESS EXERCISES
C peacetime and  e ready to
B
Ongoing crisis preparedness exercises are conducted  lert the
A in the aftermath deal with crises
authorities of a crisis if they occur
to prepare IRCC leaders in managing tensions affecting
when there
communal relations.
is suspicious  ractise mutual
P  tay resilient as
S
 EFRESH AND HONE CRISIS MANAGEMENT SKILLS
R activity or respect and individuals and
lRCC leaders are encouraged to acquire skills in handling behaviour understanding as a community
media queries through role play.

 ESTORE COMMUNAL HARMONY

R
IRCCs help to restore communal harmony in the aftermath of a
crisis to calm the ground, express solidarity and quash rumours.

We must remain vigilant and report suspicious objects, SHOULD A TERRORIST ATTACK
behaviour or persons. Any suspicious behaviour or persons
EVER OCCUR, OUR SOCIETY WILL
should be promptly reported to the authorities. The
numbers to call are the Police at 999 or the ISD Counter- HOLD TOGETHER, AND PEOPLE
Terrorism Centre at 1800-2626-473 (1800-2626-ISD). WILL STAND UNITED.
PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG, 2015

5
 FACES & PLACES
FAITH IN HARMONY
RELIGIOUS GROUPS A ngkor Wat in Cambodia;
Borobudur in Central Java,
Indonesia; the Blue Mosque
IN SINGAPORE ARE
in Istanbul, Turkey. Visiting religious
TAKING A PROACTIVE monuments is often a highlight of our
holidays. After all, it’s a great way to
APPROACH TO learn the culture of a place. Some,
HELP MEMBERS OF which still serve as places of worship,
offer a glimpse into the lives of locals.
THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND Religious centres on our island
THEM BETTER, IN offer this same multi-faceted appeal.
Many of the city’s most iconic religious
THE NAME OF landmarks, such as Sultan Mosque,
PROMOTING UNITY. Thian Hock Keng temple and St Andrew’s
Cathedral, offer guided tours for
WE FIND OUT MORE. tourists and interested members of the
public alike. These give visitors a more
6
(FROM LEFT)
MS SIM BEE HIA,
MR S NALLATHAMBY,
MR CHANDRAKANT
SHAH AND USTAZ
MUHAMMAD
FAZALEE JAFAAR
in-depth understanding of not just the
building’s architecture, but also the
faith that shaped it. “Being Singapore’s
oldest Hindu place of worship, the
Sri Mariamman Temple sees close to
40 groups — mainly from schools and
IRCCs — coming for guided tours each
month,” shares Mr S. Nallathamby,
the temple’s chairman. “During these
visits, we take them through the history,
culture and practices of Hinduism — and
we find a lot of visitors are curious
about rituals such as firewalking.” To him,
these are much more than just temple
tours. “At the end of it, the participants
leave knowing a lot more about their
Hindu neighbours.”
 ISSUE 11.2016

www.ircc.sg

Your
views SHARE WITH US YOUR
EXPERIENCE OF A CULTURAL
TRADITION OUTSIDE THAT
OF YOUR OWN
THE
ESSENTIAL
/ IRCC SG DETAILS

Harmony Centre
“THE IDEA OF THE HARMONY CENTRE
came about from the sharp increase in interest
among Singaporeans in wanting a correct
understanding of Islam, and the need to Islam and other faiths. Topics include religion
explain the many misconceptions, given the and early childhood education, or even HARMONY CENTRE
chaos brought about by groups, especially in religion and the environment. “You will get AT AN-NAHDHAH
the Middle East, who claim to represent Islam a comprehensive view of a religion and not
when committing their acts of extremism,” merely one or few of its aspects,” MOSQUE
shares Ustaz Fazalee. It was against this explains Ustaz Fazalee. ADDRESS
backdrop that the centre was set up in 2006. The Engagement Thrust aims to build 9A Bishan Street 14
The centre, which displays artefacts and meaningful bonds through interactions, Singapore 579786
information on Islam, aims to safeguard and action and projects that benefit others CONTACT
enhance social cohesion in Singapore not just beyond the faith communities. “Two key 6478 4310
through sharing their insights on Islam, but signature programmes here are the annual OPENING TIMES
also promoting interfaith harmony. Abdul Aleem Siddique Memorial Lecture Mon – Fri 9am – 530pm
To this end, a three-pronged approach – programme and the Building Bridges WEBSITE
Training, Learning, and Engagement – has Programme,” says Ustaz Fazalee. “The lecture www.facebook.com/
been taken. The Training component seeks to involves senior faith leaders and interfaith Harmony.Centre/
equip youth, community and religious leaders specialists to share their perspectives on
with the knowledge and competencies in contemporary issues with a young audience.
doing interfaith dialogue and harmony- This allows youths to interact with senior
building work. From a course in Buddhist faith leaders and aims to
Philosophy to roundtable discussions with inspire more young people
SINGAPORE’S
interfaith specialists, seasoned local and to be involved in interfaith TRANSITION
foreign interfaith practitioners and institutions, work. The Building Bridges TO MODERN
the Centre offers myriad forms of training. Programme involves different METROPOLIS IS
Some of the institutions they have worked THE RESULT OF
faith communities sharing
COOPERATION
with include the Hartford Seminary, Oxford what their sacred literature says AND HARMONY
University and the International Islamic about contemporary issues.
University of Malaysia. This is to build a stronger
Under the Learning Thrust, the Centre aims familiarity and bond within the
to encourage a more holistic understanding of faith communities.”

Historic appeal is a major attraction, and more meaningful dialogue between

but relatively new structures also have
their unique draws. Take for example the
decade-old Masjid An-Nahdhah in Bishan:
which is home to The Harmony Centre
(see box). Set up by Majlis Ugama Islam
Singapura (MUIS), it seeks to promote
the correct understanding of Islam and
Photos: Courtesy of Harmony Centre
the guides and the participants. It is not
just about seeing the place, but also
building relationships [between people of
different faiths].” As such, the Harmony
Centre welcomes visitors from all walks
of life — “Anyone can request for a tour,
be they a corporation or a small family!”

Muslims with the aim of safeguarding and
enhancing social cohesion in Singapore.
“There have been requests to organise
visits for large groups of around 200
people” says Ustaz Muhammad Fazalee
Jaafar, the head of the Harmony Centre
and Chairman of An-Nahdhah Mosque.
“We prefer smaller groups of about 40
persons so that there is better interaction
he shares. Since its inception in 2006,
the Harmony Centre has received
50,505 visitors, of which 55 per cent
were non-Muslims.
BEYOND FOUR WALLS
Yet there are more ways to learn about
a religion than through tours, and many
religious groups are taking a proactive

7
 FACES & PLACES

USTAZ FAZALEE WITH SOME YOUNG

PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTENDED A
TOUR OF THE HARMONY CENTRE

approach to expand their outreach

initiatives. The 176-year-old Thian Hock
Keng has always attracted visitors
from far and wide. And as one of
Singapore’s oldest Chinese institutions
encompassing Taoism, Buddhism,
Confucianism and ancestral worship,
it has been organising ad hoc outreach
programmes even before ‘religious
harmony’ became a social concept.
“The programmes started off as talks
and temple tours, and took on a more
structured nature from 2014,” says
Ms Sim Bee Hia, the Secretary-General
FOR MR CHANDRAKANT SHAH, MS SIM AND USTAZ
for Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and FAZALEE, ACCEPTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING
Thian Hock Keng. The group has also REPRESENT THE WAY FORWARD FOR SINGAPORE
made use of festivals as themes
for outreach efforts. ”For example,
part of our Chinese New Year celebrations
includes cultural performances and IT’S OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT
activities, bilingual exhibitions and the SINGAPORE’S SOCIAL FABRIC REMAINS
giving out of Chinese New Year souvenirs
to the public.” STRONG — AND WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE.
In April this year, Thian Hock Keng THE ‘MULTIPLIER EFFECT’ IS KEY.
also organised a charity dinner for
200 senior citizens from all faiths, in
THOSE WHO ATTEND AN EVENT ARE
conjunction with the temple’s annual TOUCHED, AND PASS THE MESSAGE ON.
birth celebration of Mazu, the Goddess of MS SIM BEE HIA
the Seas. “It’s our duty to do our part to
ensure Singapore’s social fabric remains to more than 2,000 visitors through For some religions, reaching out
strong — and we cannot do it alone,” guided tours conducted by more than is also central to their core beliefs.
she says. “The multiplier effect of each 300 volunteer guides. Mr Chandrakant Shah, administrator of
event is very important: volunteers and Mr S Nallathamby echoes Ms Sim’s the Singapore Jain Religious Society
attendees encourage others to participate observations. “Apart from the guided (SJRS) shares: “As Jains we believe in
in future events. This is how we can tours, the Sri Mariamman Temple — which treating everyone with kindness and
share the values of kindness, giving, sits in the heart of Chinatown — has also goodness. Do not allow revenge, jealousy,
and harmony.” been conducting annual Lunar New Year and prejudice to stay in one’s mind.”
These outreach activities are enriching celebrations for the last 15 years. It’s Mr Rajesh R. Shah, SJRS’s President
not just for participants, but also the about playing a part in the community explains: “One of our core values is
volunteers from Singapore Hokkien that we are in. Each year, about 150 ‘Anekantvad’ or accepting ‘Multiplicity
Huay Kuan. “All guides have to attend senior citizens from the Chinese of View’. This means to accept that all
training sessions. They are of different community are invited to a vegetarian other faiths are correct in their beliefs
religions and are able to share what lunch and an afternoon of fun and and that our point of view is only one of
they’ve learned with others of their faith. entertainment. The old folks have a good many. Only through openly sharing and
This in itself is already an impactful time because it is a break from their acting on our values can we stay true
outreach component!” observes Ms Sim. usual routine — but the volunteers also to our teachings. And this should not be
In 2015 alone, the temple reached out enjoy hosting them!” at the expense of other faiths: we should

8
 ISSUE 11.2016

‘Like’ IRCC SG on Facebook

Public 1 & 2 THIAN HOCK KENG TEMPLE HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ITS EFFORTS

Outreach
TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON CHINESE BELIEFS, TO SEE WHAT EVENTS
ARE LINED UP IN 2016, VISIT www.thianhockkeng.com
3 SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE OFFERS GUIDED TOURS FOR THOSE
KEEN TO EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HINDU PRACTICES.
PUTTING THE WORD OUT sreemahamariamman.org/home.html org.sg
RAISING AWARENESS 4 THE SJRS RAISES AWARENESS ON JAINISM BY HOSTING GROUPS
OF BELIEFS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES. LEARN MORE AT www.sjrs.org.sg
always have an open ear, an open AND TRADITIONS
heart and an open mind to explore,
learn, and accept what other religions
are postulating.”
The SJRS, the 10th member religion
to join the Inter-Religious Organisation
Singapore in 2006, not only shares
Jainism with the wider public through
activities such as opening of new
facilities. Students of Jain Shala — their
religious school — are also encouraged
to participate in field trips to various
religious institutions. Twice a year, during
major festivals celebrated by the Jains,
the less-privileged from Sunlove Chai
Chee and Jamiyah Home Tampines are
invited to their premises at 18 Jalan Yasin
to partake in a community meal with the
1,500 SJRS members. On these occasions,
the sub-committee collects pledges from 1
SJRS members contributing towards
procuring items the needy families put on 2
a wish list. Through Sunlove Chai Chee
and Sunlove Buangkok, SJRS helps to
distribute groceries to needy families
and contribute to their general welfare.

THE NEXT STEP FORWARD

Few could have forseen Singapore’s
transformation from kampung to world-
class metropolis in such a short span of
time. With an evolving social landscape,
promoting inter-religious harmony is also an
exercise that needs constant reassesment
of the social climate and the renewal of
3
ideas. From harnessing the power of social
media to creating youth wings which can
4
reach out to a younger generation, these
religious groups seem set to take their
mission into Singapore’s future.
“It’s a globalised world now. We live
in a diverse society and come in contact
with people of many religions, cultures
and beliefs,” observes Ustaz Fazalee.
This, he feels, heightens the importance
of understanding and respecting the
sensitivities and perspectives of people of
different religions. “We need to interact
with and know others to avoid fear,
prejudices, misconception and stereotypes.
We have to go beyond tolerance —
acceptance is the way forward. This was
the spirit that brought us here over the
last 50 years, and is that which will bring
us forward.”

9
 FACES & PLACES

THE PAGODA IS FITTED

WITH SOLAR PANELS
THAT GENERATE
POWER EVEN ON

SINGAPORE’S
CLOUDY DAYS

ECO-TEMPLE
YOU WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT IT, BUT POH ERN SHIH
TEMPLE, OR THE TEMPLE OF THANKSGIVING, IS ONE OF
THE PIONEERING ‘GREEN BUILDINGS’ IN SINGAPORE.
POH ERN SHIH TEMPLE
ADDRESS
9 Chwee Chian Road,
Singapore 117488
S itting atop a small hill in the quiet
Chwee Chian Road estate in Pasir
Panjang, Poh Ern Shih Temple
But that isn’t the only thing that makes
this temple unique. In 2009, it became
Singapore’s first eco-friendly temple,
CONTACT is a sanctuary that has great significance incorporating sustainable building features
6474 3926 in Singapore’s history. Also known as the into its traditional architecture.
OPENING TIMES Temple of Thanksgiving, the Buddhist temple The ‘green’ factor of the six-storey
Open daily, 6am to 6pm and memorial was built in 1954 on the ground complex was the idea of Brother Lee Boon
WEBSITE where the battle of Pasir Panjang was fought Siong, 76, president of the temple committee.
www.pohernshih.info in World War II. A retired lawyer whose grandfather Mr Lee

10
 ISSUE 11.2016

www.ircc.sg

Dyoidu Poh Ern Shih Temple was built as a memorial to

those who died fighting the Japanese in the Battle of
Pasir Panjang on 13 and 14 February 1942, and is sited

Choon Seng was involved in the founding
of the temple, Brother Lee first came up
with the idea of transforming it in 1985,
when he returned from Canada. He had
been asked to do an annual “audit” of
the temple. “I discovered that this place
needed to be improved. I was given the
task of modernising the temple,” he recalls.
Inspired by the use of eco-friendly
technologies in modern Canadian
architecture, Brother Lee proposed to
build a temple fitted with these features
in 1994, a first in Singapore. But it was
almost a decade before his ideas took
know?
on the battleground. A gun base of heavy artillery
from the period remains on the property, and has
been incorporated into the temple’s architecture.
shape. “Nobody knew what we were
talking about when we first proposed
the idea of eco-friendly infrastructure,”
he adds. The rebuilding of the temple
began in 2003, and was completed
six years later.

The temple uses three different

PLANET- kinds of solar energy cells,
purchased from Spain and Japan.
FRIENDLY
Meanwhile, two wind generators
FEATURES on the roof allow the temple
to capitalise on its windy location.
When more power is generated
than needed, the excess is pumped back Rubbish and food waste
into the Singapore Power (SP) grid. The is turned into compost,
large pillars — typical of temple architecture which is used as fertiliser
— have also been hollowed out and fitted for the many plants on
with pipes that feed into hydroelectric the temple grounds.
generators. The electricity generated is used More durable
for charging motorised wheelchairs for Bamboo is used for the LED bulbs are
devotees and visitors. furnishings. It grows faster used for the
than traditional timber Lotus Flower lights
Rainwater is collected and uses less resources. in the main hall.
in a mini reservoir and is
used to water the plants and
clean the temple grounds.
BUDDHISM TEACHES COMPASSION
FOR ALL LIFE, AND THE TEMPLE
DEMONSTRATES THIS BY ADHERING
TO ECO-FRIENDLY PRINCIPLES.
I HOPE IT WILL INFLUENCE
THE YOUNG TO DEVELOP A
RESPECT FOR NATURE.
Sunlight is channelled BROTHER LEE
through ‘mirror-periscopes’
(for basement lighting
augmentation), filtering natural
light down to the lower levels.
The insides of these hollow
cylindrical structures
are lined with mirrors.

11

ITS BEGINNINGS
Zoroastrianism dates back to
about 1,500 BC and is one of
the world’s oldest monotheistic
religions. Its members follow
the teachings of the Persian
prophet Spitaman Zarathushtra.
Also known as Zoroaster,
he sang hymns in praise of
the one supreme God, Ahura
Mazda. In the 10th century,
due to persecution, a group of
Zoroastrians left Persia for
West India (Gujarat), where they
came to be known as Parsis.
The Khordeh Avesta, or
Zend-Avesta is a holy book
which includes the teachings
of Zarathushtra
Keeping
DID YOU
KNOW
THE FLAME KNOWN FOR THEIR FIRE TEMPLES,
ZOROASTRIANS ARE MEMBERS OF ONE OF
THE WORLD’S OLDEST-SURVIVING FAITHS.
Traditionally, the dead were
placed atop the Tower of
Silence and exposed to the
sun and scavenging birds,
mainly vultures. This was
to emphasise that even
in death, the body can do
good, as well as to avoid
polluting the earth. Towers
of Silence can still be found
in India. Many Zoroastrians
now choose to be buried
or cremated — in Singapore
there’s a designated area
for the community at the
Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.
Zoroastrians are often
mistaken for fire worshippers
because of the large fires
that burn in their fire temples.
To the Zoroastrians, fire is
a source of life and growth
and is a purifying force.
In India, Zoroastrians pray
at fire temples. Some pray
daily, and during occasions
like the the Parsi New Year,
Navroze, on 21 March.
12
INSIGHTS
Tapestry of
the prophet
Zarathushtra
ALIVE RELIGION IS IN YOUR HEART
A Faravahar on the top of
the Zoroastrian temple
ZOROASTRIANISM HERE
The Zoroastrian community in Singapore
numbers around 350. The first Parsi in
Singapore, a Mr Muncherjee, arrived
from India in the early 1800s. Parsis have
contributed in many ways to Singapore society.
For example, Mr Pesi Davar left his entire
estate for charitable and educational purposes
and donated $50,000 to the Parsi Association.
Entreprenur Mr Navroji Mistri, donated a
million dollars to build the Mistri Wing for
children at the Singapore General Hospital,
says Mr Rustom M Ghadiali, Council member
of the Zoroastrian Association of Singapore
and Vice-Chairman of Henderson-Dawson
IRCC. Mr Ghadiali was president of the
Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) in
2001 and 2009.
Mr Ghadiali
explains
the sudreh
BELIEFS AND SYMBOLS
Zoroastrians believe that evil can be overcome
through righteous living. Prior to puberty,
children are inducted into the faith in a
ceremony called Navjote. They are dressed
in a sacred garment (sudreh) and a woven
thread (kusthti). This cotton undershirt is also
known as the ‘uniform of God’s service’. Its
front pocket, the girehban, logs the good and
bad deeds done in life. On the rear is a shield
to protect against evil. Zoroastrians must wear
the sudreh and kusthti every day. The kusthti
is made out of 72 fine white woollen threads
to represent the 72 chapters of the Yasna, the
primary liturgical collection of Avesta texts.
A symbol associated with the faith is the
Faravahar, a winged disc with the upper body
of a man. It serves to remind believers to live
in a way that allows the soul to progress until
it attains union with Ahura-Mazda. After death,
souls are judged based on their acts in life.
Mr Ghadiali, 80, moved to Singapore from
Mumbai, India in 1973. Part of the priestly
Nariman family, he is currently one of three
Zoroastrian priests in Singapore. Although he
no longer conducts ceremonies, he continues
to lead the community, 30 per cent of whom,
he says, joined it through inter-marriage. In
Iran and India, inter-marriages are restricted.
In Singapore, the Zoroastrian Association
constitution was changed to accommodate
non-Zoroastrian spouses to be non-voting
Association members.

Faith-driven
FASTING
WHAT THIS OBSERVANCE
MEANS IN DIFFERENT RELIGIONS.
HINDUISM
In Hinduism, fasting is undertaken for
several purposes. Hindus commonly fast
on certain days of the week to pay homage
to the deities represented by those days.
Monday, for example, is dedicated to
Lord Shiva.
Fasting starts from sunrise and ends at
sunset, but fruits are allowed in the
afternoon and devotees are permitted to
drink water. It is believed that suffering
cleanses the sinner. Fasting pleases the
deity in charge on that day, resulting in
reduced suffering for the devotee. Fasts
are always broken with a vegetarian meal.
JAINISM
For Jains, those who fast must also stop
wanting to eat. Jains fast on holy days and
during festivals, including Paryushan, which
lasts eight or 10 days. In the strictest version
of this fast, believers drink only water that
has been boiled and therefore contains no
living organisms, and only before sunset.
Known as Tivihar Upvas, this fast helps the
believer shed negative karma. Believers
can also observe
intermittent fasting,
such as abstaining
from food and/or
water from sunset
to sunrise. This
practice is known
as “Chauviar” and
can be observed
daily or as required.
MARKING THE END
OF PARYUSHAN
ISSUE 11.2016
INSIGHTS
‘Like’ IRCC SG on Facebook
ABSTINENCE IS A
significant part of many
belief systems. IRCConnect
looks at how fasting is
observed in some of the
religions practised
in Singapore.
BREAKING FAST
TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY
ISLAM
THE BAB SHRINE
AT SUNRISE Fasting during the month of Ramadan
is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and
is obligatory for all Muslims over the
BAHA’I age of puberty. Each day begins with
The Laws of fasting and obligatory prayer a pre-dawn meal, after which nothing
help humanity draw closer to God through is consumed until the fast is broken
self-restraint, purging the appetites of the at sunset, says Ustaz Muhammad
self, and of spiritual rejuvenation from Fazalee Jaafar, The Head of Harmony
the love of God. It is a period of meditation Centre. During Ramadan, Muslims are
and prayer, and of spiritual reinvigoration. encouraged to do good deeds and give
Fasting is binding for all believers aged 15 to to the needy. When fasting, Muslims
70. The period of the Fast is determined also refrain from sinful behaviours like
by the Bahá‘í calendar, which is based on swearing, backbiting and lying, all of
solar calculations. It commences with the which cancel out the spiritual rewards
termination of Ayyám-i-Há (or Intercalary of fasting. Fasts are typically broken
Days), and lasts 19 days, usually beginning with dates and water. Eid-ul Fitr — more
on 1 or 2 March. During this time, Bahá’ís commonly known here as Hari Raya Puasa
abstain from food and drink between sunrise — marks the end of the fasting month.
and sunset. Bahá’ís celebrate Naw-Rúz On this day, Muslims don their best
(New Year) at the end of the fasting month. clothes and visit family and friends.
CHRISTIANS FAST
FACT DURING LENT, WHICH
COMMEMORATES
THE 40 DAYS THAT
JESUS CHRIST SPENT
IN THE WILDERNESS.
JUDAISM
According to Chief Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, the spiritual leader of Jews in Singapore,
Jews fast to “disconnect from the material and re-connect to the spiritual, and also
as an act of repentance.” Two key fasting days are Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av. On
Yom Kippur, Jews fast as penance for sins, while on Tisha B’Av, they fast to mourn the
destruction of their temple in Jerusalem. Both fasts begin before sunset the evening
before. Until nightfall the following day, believers abstain from food, water, bathing,
anointing their bodies (with cosmetics or deodorant), wearing leather footwear and
marital relations. Many wear a white tunic on Yom Kippur, which symbolises purity
and sanctity. There are 4 minor fasts which mark tragic events that befell the Jews.
13

HEADS Up
AN ICONIC SINGAPORE DISH, FISH HEAD
CURRY IS A FAVOURITE OF MANY HERE,
REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY.
MADE IN SINGAPORE
The origins of fish head curry continue to
be debated. Its closest cousin appears to
be Muri Ghonto, a Bengali fish head curry
that generally uses rohu, a species of fish
belonging to the carp family.
Credit for the dish in the form that is
familiar to Singaporeans is often given
to restaurant owner Mr J. Gomez. Hailing
from Kerala, on the southwest coast of
India, he sold the curry in the Selegie area
in Singapore in the 1950s. To appeal to
the larger Chinese population, Mr Gomez
decided to use ingredients familiar to them,
in this case, the head of a red snapper,
which is a Chinese delicacy. It proved
to be a hit.
DIFFERENT STYLES
Over the years, the dish has not only
grown in popularity, but has also been
adopted and adapted by various ethnic
14
WE LOVE
groups. Mr Ramamoorthy Saravana,
50, the owner of Indian SubContinent,
a restaurant along Race Course Road,
says the Chinese version is sweeter, has
a thinner gravy, and is less tangy and
spicy than its Indian counterpart. The
Peranakan version meanwhile uses more
assam (tamarind) in the dish to give it a
sweet-sour flavour. The Malay version,
while similar, uses cinnamon. There is
also a slight difference in the South and
North Indian versions, According to
Mr Saravana, the latter uses coconut
milk and less tamarind and spice.
COMMUNAL EATING
While there are variations in the type of
fish head used — the heads of large fish
like garoupa, sea bass and even mackerel
are popular choices — and the spiciness
of the gravy, a good fish head curry is
THE INDIAN FISH
HEAD CURRY (MAIN
PHOTO) IS TANGY
AND SPICY, WHILE
THE CHINESE
VERSION (ABOVE)
IS SWEETER, WITH
A THINNER GRAVY
FACT
SOME BELIEVE
THAT EATING
FISH EYES WILL
IMPROVE ONE'S
EYESIGHT, BUT
THIS HAS BEEN
DEBUNKED
BY DIETITIANS.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the past, the head of the
fish was traditionally thrown
away by cooks as it was deemed
unsuitable for curries. In fact, apart
from the Chinese, few other ethnic
groups in Singapore saw much
value in the fish head, which is
why they were often sold at a
discount in wet markets.
Today, fish heads are even sold
in supermarkets, and this
iconic dish is hailed as one of
SINGAPORE’S TOP DISHES, finding
its place in the City Hawker Food
Guide – SG50 Edition, produced
by City Gas. There is even a
Best Fish Head Curry Award at
the Singapore Food Festival.
typically served in portions large enough
to be shared, making it a great communal
meal. The cheeks, eyes and tongue
are especially prized, and it is not at all
surprising to see the plate picked clean,
save for the remaining fish bones.

ODE TO
THE
MOON
HAVING SPREAD BEYOND ITS CHINESE ORIGINS,
THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL IS NOW CELEBRATED
BY OTHER RACES IN SINGAPORE AS WELL.
he Mid-Autumn Festival
T (Zhong Qiu Jie) — also
known as the Mooncake
Festival — dates back
some 3,000 years to the era of the
Shang and Zhou Dynasties of China.
It is celebrated during the Autumn
full moon on the 15th day of the 8th
month of the lunar calendar. This
takes place around September, and
coincides with the harvest season in
China. In the lead-up, believers burn
incense, pray and make food offerings
to the moon for a good harvest.
The Story
Many of the tales explaining the
festival’s origins relate to the
Chinese Goddess of the Moon,
Chang E (嫦娥). One tells of a
hero who was given an elixir of
immortality, but did not drink it as
he did not want to outlive his wife
Chang E. However, when a villain
tries to steal the elixir, Chang E
drinks it to prevent it from falling
into his hands. In another version,
WE LOVE
Celebration
for all
the hero becomes a corrupt king.
To prevent his tyranny from lasting
forever, Chang E drinks the elixir.
Taste Of The Season
Mooncakes are traditionally
consumed during the festivities.
Their round shape, like that of
the full moon, symbolises unity in
Chinese culture. They are typically
filled with lotus seed or red bean
paste, and may also contain an egg
yolk. Modern variants include the
snow skin mooncake, made with
a glutinous rice crust. Mooncakes
nowadays contain fillings like durian,
taro paste, and even ice cream.
Some are also certified halal. Many
bear imprints indicating the filling
inside, and the name of the bakery.
UNLIKE THE
BAKED VARIETY,
SNOWSKIN
MOONCAKES
NEED TO BE KEPT
REFRIGERATED
TO ENSURE
FRESHNESS
ISSUE 11.2016
www.ircc.sg
Let There Be Light
Lanterns feature prominently during
the celebrations, providing colour
and light as children carry them
around at night. This is why the
festival is sometimes referred to as
the Lantern Festival in Singapore.
The celebrations here also feature
lantern walks involving Singaporeans
of all races. Chinatown has one of the
most elaborate mass lantern walks,
which in some years ends with a
pyrotechnic display.
Various IRCCs have organised numerous Mid-
Autumn Festival celebrations through the years, and
foster community ties by including participants of
all races. Mr Chua Kok Wah, 65, a West Coast IRCC
member and chairman of the Ang Chee Sia Ong
temple, has helped to organise the annual event for
more than 10 years. Each year, the temple donates
3,000 halal mooncakes to be distributed to some
2,000 recipients. Mr Bernard Chiang, Chairman
of Braddell Heights IRCC, plans to do something
similar for his division during the festival this year.
“The aim is to reach out to residents regardless of
age, race or religion, so they can get to know their
neighbours and strengthen community bonding,”
he says. Meanwhile, Mr Chia Keng Hian, Chairman
of Kampong Glam IRCC, says that such events
remind everyone that harmony is important
and “cannot be taken for granted”.
15
 CLUE ME IN

Quiz Time! GET

VISUAL
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architecture? Why not share
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/ IRCC SG

DETAILS C

TAKE A LOOK AT THE

FOLLOWING PHOTOS.
CAN YOU GUESS THE
NAMES OF THESE
RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS?
B
HINTS

A  Built in 1827, this is the oldest

Hindu temple in Singapore.
B  A Buddhist temple and museum
complex in Chinatown.
C  Built in 1835 and gazetted as
a national monument in 1973,
this is the oldest church
in Singapore.

Read and THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING

QUESTIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THIS ISSUE

WIN UNIQGIFT SEND IN

YOUR ANSWERS
(in the format “1. ANSWER, 2.

VOUCHERS!
ANSWER, etc”) via our Facebook
page by sending a private message
or mail in your answers to the below
address by 15 July 2016.
1. What is the percentage of non-Muslim visitors to the Harmony 5 lucky winners with all the
Centre, since its opening in 2006? correct answers will each win
UNIQGIFT vouchers
2. True or false: When the solar power cells of Poh Ern Shih Temple worth $20!
generate more power than is needed, the excess is pumped back
into the Singapore Power grid.
3. What is the cotton undershirt of the Zoroastrians, the sudreh, LIST OF WINNERS
Issue #10
also known as? NAME NRIC NO.
Ashley Ng S****544J
4. In which part of Singapore did Erna Sharida S****523G
Mr J Gomez sell his original MAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO: Joong Yen Mei S****668E
IRCC Newsletter Editorial Committee c/o Neha Bandung S****440I
Fish Head Curry in the 1950s? Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Vellayappan s/o S****490J
Community Relations and Engagement Division Nadarajan Chettiar
5. What does the round shape of 140 Hill Street #02-00 Singapore 179369
mooncakes symbolise?
A) Sri Mariamman

B) Buddha Tooth
and Museum
C) Armenian
Relic Temple
Answers:

Temple

Church

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16