On most days, Sathiyamoorthy Venkatesan is surrounded by incense smoke and sacred chants, performing age-old rituals at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road.
But on May 31, the 34-year-old assistant chief priest from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, was seen in a different light – sprinting across the cricket field in full gear, eyes locked on the ball, leading his team, the Garuda Warriors, to a spirited victory.
The occasion was the Hindu Endowments Board’s (HEB) Inter-Temple Cricket Tournament, a first-of-its-kind initiative to bring together temple staff across Singapore in the name of sport, camaraderie and wellness.
Held at the Singapore Indian Association Field, the tournament saw teams from the four HEB-managed temples trade their panchagajams (worn by priests) for cricket colours and sacred chants for cheers of encouragement.
“I’ve loved cricket since I was a child,” said Venkatesan with a wide grin, eyes lighting up at the memory of playing in the dusty lanes in Kumbakonam. “I’ve played in small tournaments back home, but this is my first time competing in Singapore. It feels amazing.
“We are often busy with pujas, weddings and temple functions, especially on weekends. Weekdays give us some free time, and that’s when we practice – usually in the temple car park, even under the hot sun,” added Venkatesan, who has been in Singapore for four years.
His team, the Garuda Warriors, is made up of five priests, two administrative staff, a cook and a few helpers.
Their dedication paid off – they won the tournament, scoring 46 runs for nine wickets in eight overs in the final, beating the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple team, or Tiger Warriors, who managed 31 for 5 in eight overs.
“Winning felt great. But more than that, it was about the joy of playing, the bonding and the break from routine,” said Venkatesan, who scored 24 and 2 in the two matches his team played. “We usually don’t get time to connect with each other beyond our duties. But this brought us together like family.”
The idea behind the tournament was simple yet powerful: to foster wellness, build bonds and offer temple staff a joyful break from their demanding routines.
“This tournament is a celebration of those who serve silently behind the scenes,” said Professor N. Ganapathy, vice-chairman of HEB and chairman of the Temple Affairs Committee. “It’s not just about cricket – it’s about wellness, teamwork and joy.”
The matches were played in good spirit, with the staff showing the same discipline and teamwork on the pitch as they do in their temples. Teams representing Sri Mariamman Temple and Sri Sivan Temple also competed in the eight-over tennis-ball matches.
For Sreenarayanan, a 51-year-old priest and captain of the Sri Sivan Temple team, the experience was nostalgic. “I used to play regularly in my youth. This gave me a chance to reconnect with something I love,” he said. “Many of us are away from our families. But today, we felt like one big family.”
HEB CEO Jeevaganth Arumugam emphasised the broader purpose behind the event. “At the end of the day, our priests and temple staff are human too. They need a space to relax, laugh and bond,” he said. “This was a way for them to enjoy themselves outside the temple, to reconnect with a part of themselves that may have been forgotten.”
HEB provided full support, including cricket gear, branded jerseys and allocated time for practice. “Some of them trained hard on their own. It was inspiring to see their passion,” Mr Jeevaganth said.
Manikandan, administration manager and captain of the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple team, said cricket offered a welcome release from daily stress. “We face the public all day, handle rituals, logistics – it’s stressful. Playing cricket gave us joy and helped us bond,” he said.
His team, like the others, was made up of a cross-section of temple staff – priests, admin officers, cooks and helpers – truly reflecting the spirit of inclusivity.
Beyond the cricket, the event offered a rare glimpse into the lives of temple staff. Many, like Venkatesan, live alone in Singapore. Their days are filled with religious duties, and social interactions are limited.
“We don’t go out much. Sometimes we play badminton, sometimes we just rest. But this event was different. We laughed, trained, competed – and grew closer,” said Venkatesan.
He now hopes to continue playing cricket more regularly and dreams of setting up a weekly match among temple staff.
The event was so well-received that HEB plans to make it an annual affair. “Based on the enthusiasm we’ve seen, there’s no question – we’ll continue this,” said Mr Jeevaganth. “It might take different forms, but the message is the same: we care for our staff, and we want to give them opportunities to thrive.”
For Venkatesan, the day was more than just a win. “It brought back memories, gave me joy and reminded me that even as priests, we can have fun, we can play and we can dream,” he said.
