SMU Sikhs Inc promotes multiculturalism through the first Langar event in Singapore
ABOUT 500
students,
staff and faculty from Singapore Management
University (SMU)
and members of
the public attended the inaugural
SMU Langar Day
(right), organised
by SMU Sikhs Inc,
in collaboration
with the People’s
Association Community Engagement Programme.
The event held on Feb 13 – the first of its kind in Singapore – showcased and encouraged Unity in Community through Love and Sharing of Langar, with the theme “Sharing CommUNITY Love”.
Langar, which has a very special value in the Sikh religion, is the free community kitchen of the Sikhs, where food is distributed free to all regardless of race, creed or religion.
The Langar, prepared and sourced from two Sikh temples in Singapore, the Central Sikh Temple and Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sang Sabha (Gurdwara Katong), was distributed and consumed in traditional Sikh style with students and others alike seated in rows on the floor, while volunteers of various nationalities and races stepped forward to assist in serving the food.
This epitomised the values of sharing, service, humanity, humility, meditation and selflessness that Langar
seeks to promote in daily life.
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The guest of
honour was Member of Parliament
and Choa Chu
Kang GRC adviser
Alex Yam Ziming.
Members of the
Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence
Circle, Ministry of
Culture, Community and Youth
and leaders of the
Sikh community
were also present
at the three-hour
long event.
“The students’ decision to share community love through cultural appreciation is meaningful as the event is held on the eve of Valentine’s Day, which is also on the eve of this year’s Chinese Valentine’s Day.
“This programme underscores how many cultures have similar undertones, and that our similarities should be drawn out and celebrated more than our differences,” Mr Yam told The Straits Times.
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Traditional Sikh dance performance at SMU Langar Day |
The event also featured a bhangra performance, turban tying session, a photo booth, a gatka (Sikh martial art) performance and an exhibition to explain the concept of Langar.
SMU Sikhs Inc was established to reconnect Sikhs with their rich heritage and culture, renew the sense of pride and identity among Sikhs in SMU and enable them to appreciate and further their interests in the culture, history and language of the Sikhs.