Singapore PM Attends Consecration Ceremony of Hindu Temple

By Little India Desk | April 25, 2018

The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, a 164-year-old Hindu temple in Singapore was re-consecrated in a ceremony on April 22. The Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong was present at the ceremony along with around 40,000 devotees. The temple just got a S$4.5 million facelift.

The Hindu temple was re-sanctified in a consecration ceremony called the “Maha Samprokshanam”. It will be followed by a period of 45 days of cultural programs known as the “mandalabishegam”.

 “This 164-year-old temple has been undergoing renovations for the last 1.5 years to prepare for its re-consecration, which takes place every 12 years,” Loong tweeted on April 22 following the ceremony.

Loong attended the ceremony soon after returning to Singapore from London after attending the commonwealth leaders’ meet there. This was the first time he attended the ceremony since becoming the prime minister in 2004.

Joined Hindu community leaders & thousands of devotees at the re-consecration of the newly renovated Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple this morning. – LHL https://t.co/BpAP6yFtKg pic.twitter.com/uJ5F09InIs

— leehsienloong (@leehsienloong) April 22, 2018

 

The temple was earlier renovated in 1979, 1992 and 2005 since being declared as a national monument by the Preservation of Monuments Board in 1978. During the 2018 renovation, it was expanded to include more space for worship and eating. A new multi-purpose facility for “sanctified” meals and religious ceremonies has been added. Paintings, murals and religious motifs, were repainted and structures like the rajagopuram (tower entrance), pillars and vimanam (temple roof) have been reconditioned.

Minister of trade and industry S Iswaran said the occasion reflected the diversity in Singapore community, according to the Straits Times. “The prime minister’s presence here today, having travelled overnight from overseas (Commonwealth meetings in London), is a remarkable validation of the commitment the government has, that PM Lee also has, to this,” Iswaran added.

“It is an opportunity to bring together different communities so that we develop this mutual understanding and respect and continue to build on Singapore’s multi-racial fabric,” The Straits Times quoted the minister as saying.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran, and Senior Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary were also present for the ceremony.

“Such events indeed, reflect the diversity as well as the harmony we have in our multi-religious, multiracial society,” said Sing, on the social media.