Over four days last week, about 45,000 people from Singapore, India, the United Kingdom, North America and around the region participated in the Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar, the largest gathering of the Sikh community in South-east Asia.
The religious extravaganza at the Singapore Expo featured speeches, devotional music, exhibitions, product displays and health screenings.
Organisers said the event, from Dec 26 to 29, was chiefly aimed at enhancing understanding, eradicate misperceptions and strengthen relations between people of different faiths in Singapore’s multi-religious society.
It also served to remind the Sikh community of the key principles of their religion – appreciation and respect for others, universalism and inclusiveness.
Held once every two years, Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar, which loosely translates to “Festival of Sikh Music”, also featured a langgar or community kitchen manned by temple volunteers who served some 10,000 free vegetarian meals a day to the visitors.
Members of the public also got a taste of Sikh culture and heritage – from a photo exhibition to turban tying stations.
Around 150 representatives from various religious groups in Singapore also attended the event.
On Sunday, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam visited the festival, where he was honoured with a shawl and shield for being a strong supporter of the Sikh community.
Accompanied by Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence Zaqy Mohamad, he toured the venue, partook in the langgar, met Sikh leaders and addressed the community.
“I must congratulate all of you and the organisers for having an even bigger and grander event this year,” he said. “You have placed the Singapore Sikh community on the global map through Naam Ras. Please continue the good work as it has now become an international event.” One of the highlights of the four-day celebrations was a 3D exhibition dedicated to the life of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, the third guru of Sikhism. The immersive experience allowed visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the guru’s teachings and contributions.
Another spiritual highlight was the presentation of the sacred relics of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th guru of Sikhism.
As in previous editions, there was an interfaith component where non-Sikhs were taken on a guided tour, engaged in a dialogue and offered the opportunity to volunteer.
“Nam Raas was a great example of an event by the community, for the community,” said Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) deputy chief executive Khairul Anwar. “Besides learning more about the Sikh faith and bumping into numerous friends, it was heartening to see how this was done entirely by volunteers, who ensured there was something for every interest and age group – scripture, arts, shopping, martial arts, childcare, interfaith. Truly honoured to be invited to witness this.”
More than 200 volunteers ensured that the programmes were conducted on time and visitors could move around freely around the booths. They also helped the elderly check their health and fitness – supported by the staff from various healthcare providers.
“We partnered Diabetes Singapore to provide free health screenings, addressing a crucial need in the community,” said Brilynne Zhang, brand director of Buzud, a manufacturer of a holistic range of healthcare solutions. “It was both a joyful and meaningful experience for us.
“Given that this community has a higher risk of high blood glucose, lipid or blood pressure, we were glad to play a role in early detection of these issues. Our collaboration allowed participants to consult doctors on-site using their screening reports.”
