SINGAPORE, Dec 29: This past Sunday, over 10,000 Sikhs convened in Singapore to celebrate community, understanding, and harmony, marking the end of Naam Ras, a four-day religious and cultural fair.
In attendance were Singapore’s Law and Home Minister K Shanmugam and Zaqy bin Mohamad, a senior minister of state for Manpower and Defence. They also welcomed interfaith groups representing non-Sikh communities to the biennial gala ‘mela,’ which took place from December 26 to 29.
The ministers were presented with traditional Sikh Saropas (scarves) as a mark of respect.
Malminderjit Singh, the Chairman of the Sikh Advisory Board, stated that the Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar is an initiative from the ground up aimed at enhancing community, understanding, and harmony.
He further shared that the event was organized by the Singapore Sikh community along with the help of supporters, donors, and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) of Singapore.
In total, over 50,000 Sikhs from Singapore participated in the carnival-like festival, which highlighted the community’s strong cultural ties to its homeland in Punjab and northern India.
Minister Shanmugam commended the Sikh organizations, particularly the gurdwaras and social service units, for their efforts in organizing this significant event.
“Such events strengthen the bonds within the community,” he remarked, pointing out the diverse crowd gathered from various regions.
“It stands as one of the largest Sikh gatherings outside of India,” shared Professor Nirmal Singh Randhawa, originally from Amritsar and a key advisor and preacher of Sikh cultures since the event’s inception.
Sikhs traveled from the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and various Southeast Asian nations—communities that have thrived for over a century while maintaining strong connections to their ancestral homes—to take part in the festivities.
Volunteers, including migrant workers from northern India, managed the event that highlighted the vibrant lifestyle of Sikhs, who make up a minority community of about 12,000 in this affluent city-state.
Held nightly from 5.30 to 10 pm, the event offered non-Sikhs a glimpse into the backgrounds and cultures, providing a unique opportunity to delve into the rich traditions of the Sikh faith, according to Malminderjit Singh.
The program featured performing arts, traditional Sikh music, and live drama performances centered around Sikh history. (PTI)
