Name the location and describe its historical and cultural significance in Singapore:
In Singapore, the historic district of Little India is popularly known as the heartland of the Indian community and home to much of the Singapore Indian population. Back in the 1800’s, Little India was the perfect location for cattle rearing and agriculture and therefore a land that initially housed Indian convicts but soon it became home to many who had served their time and chose to stay back in Singapore. Personally, I feel that Little India is rich in its own culture as Little India is well-known for the celebrations of important festivals such as Deepavali and Pongal.
Figure 1: Streets at Little India
Figure 2: Decoration for Deepavali at Little India
List the places you visited:
I have visited some places in Little India such as the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, Angullia Mosque, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and Leong San See Temple. Figures 3 and 4 show some of the places I had visited during my field trip.
I have visited some places in Little India such as the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, Angullia Mosque, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and Leong San See Temple. Figures 3 and 4 show some of the places I had visited during my field trip.
Figure 3: Kampong Kapor Methodist Church at Little India
Figure 4: Masjid Angullia at Little India
Identify two different cultural expressions related to the cultural windows of religions, rites and rituals in the field trip:
I will share with you two different cultural expressions related to the cultural windows of rituals on Hinduism such as the division between purity and pollution and fire walking.
For Hinduism, one of the most notable feature in religious ritual is the division between purity and pollution.
Religious acts presuppose some degree of impurity or defilement for the practitioner, which must be overcome or neutralized before or during the ritual procedures. The visible feature is the water used for the rituals procedures. The symbolic meaning of water relates to both cleanliness and spiritual well-being.
Suggest the underlying values and beliefs that these expressions indicate of their respective cultures:
The underlying values and belief of this cultural expression is to strive to attain purity and avoid pollution. This widespread aspiration lends itself to a reverence for water as well as the integration of water into most Hindu rituals, as it is believed that water has spiritually cleansing powers.
The underlying values and belief of this cultural expression is to strive to attain purity and avoid pollution. This widespread aspiration lends itself to a reverence for water as well as the integration of water into most Hindu rituals, as it is believed that water has spiritually cleansing powers.
Describe the visible features of these cultural expressions as well as their symbolic meaning:
Another rituals that Hindus go through is fire walking. The visible feature is the costumes of the devotees as all of them were dressed in yellow and red. In Figure 6, it shows a picture whereby the devotees are dressed in yellow or red in color The symbolic meaning of wearing yellow and red is the cleansing of physical and spiritual impurity.
Another rituals that Hindus go through is fire walking. The visible feature is the costumes of the devotees as all of them were dressed in yellow and red. In Figure 6, it shows a picture whereby the devotees are dressed in yellow or red in color The symbolic meaning of wearing yellow and red is the cleansing of physical and spiritual impurity.
Suggest the underlying values and beliefs that these expressions indicate of their respective cultures:
The underlying values and belief of fire walking is that it is a ritual as an act of self-purification. For some devotees it is part of a vow in which the devotee promises to walk on fire in exchange for a wish or blessing granted by Amman. Devotees believe that if they are blessed by Amman then they will come out unscathed.
The underlying values and belief of fire walking is that it is a ritual as an act of self-purification. For some devotees it is part of a vow in which the devotee promises to walk on fire in exchange for a wish or blessing granted by Amman. Devotees believe that if they are blessed by Amman then they will come out unscathed.
Figure 5: Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple at Little India
Figure 6: Fire walking at Little India
Next, I will talk about two different cultural expressions related to the cultural window of festive event on Deepavali such as henna and oil lamps.
Describe the visible features of these cultural expressions as well as their symbolic meaning:
For Hinduism, one the the visible features is the henna. Girls and women will get their hands decorated with henna designs. There are a number of symbols used within the art and each have various meanings and uses. The symbolic meaning for palm decoration is the designs which invoke images of opening and offering. For the back of hand decoration, it symbolized as a shield-closing, defending, clenching-symbolizing protection. Lastly, the symbolic meaning of henna on the feet is to be recognized as a point of divine contact, considered a holy junction, where human being and Earth meet.
Suggest the underlying values and beliefs that these expressions indicate of their respective cultures:
The underlying values and belief of henna is often used strictly for the beautification of one’s body. The hindus believed that henna has been used to adorn women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations such as Deepavali. In Figure 7 below, the picture shows a Caucasian trying out henna tattoo on the back of his hand.
For Hinduism, one the the visible features is the henna. Girls and women will get their hands decorated with henna designs. There are a number of symbols used within the art and each have various meanings and uses. The symbolic meaning for palm decoration is the designs which invoke images of opening and offering. For the back of hand decoration, it symbolized as a shield-closing, defending, clenching-symbolizing protection. Lastly, the symbolic meaning of henna on the feet is to be recognized as a point of divine contact, considered a holy junction, where human being and Earth meet.
Suggest the underlying values and beliefs that these expressions indicate of their respective cultures:
The underlying values and belief of henna is often used strictly for the beautification of one’s body. The hindus believed that henna has been used to adorn women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations such as Deepavali. In Figure 7 below, the picture shows a Caucasian trying out henna tattoo on the back of his hand.
Figure 7: Henna drawing
Describe the visible features of these cultural expressions as well as their symbolic meaning:
Another visible feature is the oil lamp. In Figure 8, it shows a picture of oil lamps selling at Little India. The
symbolic meaning of oil lamp is that the light in the lamp symbolizes
knowledge. It removes darkness, which symbolizes ignorance. Thus light
symbolizes Brahman. The wick in the traditional oil lamp symbolizes ego and the
oil or ghee used symbolizes their negative tendencies. When they are lit by
self knowledge, the negative tendencies (oil) melt away and finally the ego
(wick) perishes. When the ego perishes, they realize that they are all the
Supreme Truth.
Suggest the underlying values and beliefs that these expressions indicate of their respective cultures:
The underlying values and belief of the oil lamp means that the lamp leads them from darkness towards light. It burns only to give the message of peace and light to man. The lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil is also to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, these lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.
The underlying values and belief of the oil lamp means that the lamp leads them from darkness towards light. It burns only to give the message of peace and light to man. The lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil is also to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, these lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.
Figure 8: Oil Lamps in Little India
Explain if any these cultural expressions have remained the same, evolved or changed over time:
Henna decoration has changed over time. Traditionally the designs are placed on hands and feet, but now the modern generation has changed it all. They are now very popular on all visible areas of the body including the belly, forehead, neck arms, back and shoulders.
Explain how the field trip has helped raise your awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural expressions in a multicultural environment such as Singapore:
In conclusion, this field trip has helped raise my awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural expressions in a multicultural environment such as Singapore. For example, I had a wonderful experience at Little India and searching for places where people worship their god(s). It was indeed a great exposure to me as I feel like I am one of the ‘tourists’ getting to know more about Singapore. I went to Little India few days before Deepavali and the decorations were fantastic. The atmosphere was great and there were a lot of people on the streets to make the last-minute preparation for Deepavali. I can actually feel the festive mood and it was an unforgettable field trip.
In conclusion, this field trip has helped raise my awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural expressions in a multicultural environment such as Singapore. For example, I had a wonderful experience at Little India and searching for places where people worship their god(s). It was indeed a great exposure to me as I feel like I am one of the ‘tourists’ getting to know more about Singapore. I went to Little India few days before Deepavali and the decorations were fantastic. The atmosphere was great and there were a lot of people on the streets to make the last-minute preparation for Deepavali. I can actually feel the festive mood and it was an unforgettable field trip.
It was indeed a good experience for me to get
closer to others’ cultures in Singapore. I certainly believe that we should
respect each other’s cultures in order to live in harmony as I feel that this
is extremely important for a multicultural country like Singapore.
References:
http://www.little-india.sg/Little_India_History.aspx
http://cullin.org/cbt/index.cfm?section=chapter&number=14
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/a/rites_rituals.htm
http://www.africanwater.org/religion.htm
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2010/07/importance-of-traditional-wick-lamp-in.html
http://www.forumforhinduawakening.org/articles/id/understanding/why-is-ghee-lamp-preferred-to-oil-lamp-during-puja-ritual
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna
http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2012/06/11/devotees-end-ritual-with-firewalking/
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2007/10/fire-walking-ritual-in-hinduism.html
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/firewalking/Interesting
http://www.hennadesigns.com/facts.htm
http://cullin.org/cbt/index.cfm?section=chapter&number=14
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/a/rites_rituals.htm
http://www.africanwater.org/religion.htm
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2010/07/importance-of-traditional-wick-lamp-in.html
http://www.forumforhinduawakening.org/articles/id/understanding/why-is-ghee-lamp-preferred-to-oil-lamp-during-puja-ritual
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna
http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2012/06/11/devotees-end-ritual-with-firewalking/
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2007/10/fire-walking-ritual-in-hinduism.html
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/firewalking/Interesting
http://www.hennadesigns.com/facts.htm
