Culture Blog Entry 2: Self-directed learning

It is the time of the year again for Hindus to celebrate their most important festival – the Deepavali or the Diwali, which is popularly known as the “Festival of Lights”.

Just on the eve of Deepavali, I made a visit to Little India to immerse myself in the festive atmosphere, as Hindus prepare to usher into the New Year. The streets along Little India are beautifully lit up with light decorations (shown in Figure 1).

Figure 1: Little India streets beautifully lit up with light docorations

Historically, Little India is a district where majority of the Hindus in Singapore gather for their shopping to be done on the eve of Deepavali. It is Singapore’s foremost Indian enclave. The actual most happening area I hanged out was Serangoon Road, Race Course Road, Campbell Lane and Dunlop Street.

Before exploring any further, the first stop upon my arrival to Little India on the eve of Deepavali, was getting my stomach filled – where I indulged in one of the wide variety of authentic Indian cuisine served at the Sakunthala’s Food Palace – the Chicken Biryani and Mango Fish Curry (shown in Figure 2).

Figure 2: Sakunthala's Food Palace's Chicken Biryani

Next stop was a visit to the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (shown in Figure 3) – a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali, where I immersed myself into the cultural windows of religions, rites and rituals.

Figure 3: Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Prior to entry, I washed both my foot and removed my footwear before I announced my arrival to the god by ringing the bell at the entrance of the temple. It is believed that ringing the bell wards off any evil spirits and as a note to the god of the devotees' presence for its blessing needed. Upon my entry; devotees were worshipping to different deities and have offerings such as floral garlands and bananas to donations, ready on hand to be accepted by the priest and in return for prayers, as they believe that they will be blessed (shown in Figure 4).

Figure 4: Bananas are given to the priest as an offering to the deities

Prayers were then passed to the worshippers thereafter (shown in Figure 5).

Figure 5: A priest giving a devotee his blessings

In addition, for a donation of $20, visitors are able to purchase a miniature brick (shown in Figure 6) with their names written on it, for blessing and supporting the temple’s building fund.

Figure 6: Miniature bricks purchased by devotees

Clay lamps filled with oil (shown in Figure 7) were lit up at the temple as it signifies the triumph of good over evil. They are also lit up in the Hindus’ home, as lighting of lamps is also a way of paying obeisance to the god for knowledge, peace, health and fame. It is also believed that goddess Lakshmi will not enter a home that is dark. Furthermore, darkness represents ignorance and light represents metaphor for knowledge.

Figure 7: Clay lamps - represents good over evil

Moving on to the cultural windows of festive events, Campbell Lane and Dunlop Street was where I discovered the actual happening point of Deepavali, from Hindus purchasing artifacts and festive food to apparels and jewelries.

As Deepavali is the time for everyone to rejoice looking forward to a bright future, the Hindus would purchase new clothes (shown in Figure 8 and 9) and jewelries. 

Figure 8: Sarees displayed for sale

Figure 9: Hindu men queuing for their trousers to be tailored

It is believed that Hindus buy gold during Deepavali as a form of investment and to be inherited by their offspring thereafter (shown in Figure 10).

Figure 10: Hindu couples browsing at gold bangles

A huge variety of festive goodies to sample before buying. This is the time where the Hindus buy and share goodies with their families, relatives and friends (shown in Figure 11).

Figure 11: Celebrants purchasing festive goodies

Along many areas of the different streets, females were queuing or seated for their “henna” – a temporary form of skin decoration using flowering plants – to be done (shown in Figure 12). Henna is a popular form of expressions for good luck and happiness. As hennas are done between the artist and bearer, it is believed that it opens a spiritual connection where one receives a gifted blessing during the drawing process.

Figure 12: A lady drawing a "henna" for a Hindu patron

As Deepavali is celebrated on the darkest night of Kartik, what is the Festival of Lights without these sparkle sticks and party poppers (shown in Figure 13)?

Figure 13: Sparkles and party poppers for sale

Based on my observation, I truly believe that these cultural expressions have somewhat remained the same, as the actual happening there was far ahead from my expectation before I went for the field trip. The past culture has been preserved the traditional way - the females are still decked out in their sarees and sherwani for the men (instead of modern fashionable apparels). The visit to Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple was also an indication that majority of the Hindus do not feel the worshipping as a superstitious behavior or act.

What surprises me was that clay lamps may not be used to light up their homes. Instead, electrical lamps on sale could be used as a substitute. I felt the significance could be diminishing in this case.

Perhaps a visit to Little India would change one’s perception that the expressions have remained the same, evolved or changed, as they really immerse themselves in the Indian culture with meticulous observation.

This enriching field trip has no doubt raised my awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural expressions in a multicultural environment such as Singapore, as everyone can feel welcome to join in different festive occasions’ celebrations with many to discover. Moreover, local government boards such as Singapore Tourism Board are also promoting to people from all walks of life, to join in. Knowing the underlying values and beliefs will definitely help in one's appreciation of the Indian culture.

To end it off, there is surely a precious belief for each culture’s doings.

Culture Blog Entry 1: Food and Costumes

It was a wonderful Saturday lunch experience, where I indulged in some authentic Peranakan delights in one of the finest Peranakan restaurant in Singapore, the True Blue Cuisine (shown in Figure 1) located at Armenian Street.

Figure 1: True Blue Cuisine at Armenian Street

Upon my arrival, I was warmly greeted and seated by a Peranakan waitress, Dorothy who decked out in the traditional sarong kebaya (shown in Figure 2). She was being very hospitable and served me some Peranakan red date tea upon seated to start it off. The hospitable service and atmosphere totally makes you feels like you’re dining at a Peranakan friend’s home!

Figure 2: Dorothy in her sarong kebaya

Describing the Peranakan cultural expressions through the cultural windows of food, one of the must-try Peranakan dish I ordered was the Ayam buah keluak (shown in Figure 3). The symbolic meaning of it being such a classic Peranakan dish is the cooking principle and strong tradition of Ayam buah keluak, that resulted in its recipe been passed down from generation to generation, making it a truly authentic Peranakan dish. In fact, it is a norm for such classic Peranakan dishes’ recipe to be passed down from generation to generation. The chef of True Blue Cuisine, Baba Ben, culinary skills was also passed down by his mother.

In addition, as part of the Peranakan culture, true Peranakan cuisines are very elaborative and require many hours of preparation.

Figure 3: Ayam buah keluak

Apart from the classic Ayam buah keluak, some of the other Peranakan dishes I’ve tried are (shown in Figure 4, from top to bottom and bottom left and right): Chap chye (mixed vegetables), Itek sio (duck braised with sweet coriander powder), Ayam buah keluak (chicken stewed with black nuts), Jantong pisang (banana blossom with cucumber), Otak otak (spicy fish paste wrapped in banana leaf) and Udang ketak (haypoh) cha sambal (slipper lobsters in spicy taste).

Figure 4: Various Peranankan dishes

Moving on to the cultural windows of costumes, I made a visit to True Blue Shoppe that is also owned by True Blue Cuisine, located just a few steps away from the restaurant after my lunch. True Blue Shoppe sells various types of books to develop one’s knowledge and keenness to discover Peranakan culture, retailing items from books to food goodies and sarong kabayas to jewelries (shown in Figure 5 and 6)

Figure 5: Sarong kebaya in glass display at True Blue Shoppe

Figure 6: Jewelries in cabinet display at True Blue Shoppe

A sarong kebaya is a translucent and embroidered blouse worn with batik sarong by Peranakan ladies. The symbolic meaning of a sarong kebaya is a work of art, showing the labour of love, heritage and timeless. Its elegant and feminine design makes its attire for the Nonya to wear for all occasions and ages. Jewelries can often be worn with the sarong kebaya as it complements the overall look of a Peranakan lady with a social status of wealth, artistocracy and nobility.

Apart from food and costumes, some of the other visible features I observed were those exquisite Peranakan ornaments, paraphernalia and lamps displayed in the restaurant. The different types of porcelain and ceremonial wares (shown in Figure 7) actually has a symbolic meaning too. Peranakans maintained different types of porcelain and ceremonial ware for use in dining occasion such as for every day meals and for offerings to ancestors and deities.

Figure 7: Restaurant's porcelain and ceremonial wares

The lanterns placed side by side of the doors (as shown in Figure 1 earlier) is believed that it symbolizes good fortune and prosperity that are supposed to bring much luck and wealth to Peranakan members. Such symbolic meaning actually also brings in to the restaurant’s business context.

From the lectures I have attended, some key learning points that helped me to better understand the significance of these expressions of cultural practices are the cultural evolution – which I have understood that it is essential to preserve and promote heritage and appreciate it. For instances, I’d thought Peranakans would have stopped wearing their traditional sarong kebaya in today’s era. But it was the otherwise. Such cultivated behavior could stop the evolution and pass from generation to generation, preserving their real cultural significance.

Furthermore, the learning points of food includes the rationale for the Peranakans to actually take hours to prepare their food and ways of preparing, as every single attention was closely paid for the preparation to bring out its’ dish authentic taste and consumption significance. Lastly for the costumes, some learning points adopted are what all the embroideries on the sarong kebaya are, along with the actual interesting meaning for people to make and wear it, what do costumes reveal about culture and cultural identities such as adornment.