This week marks the New Year and major festive occasions for various Indian communities in Singapore, including the Tamil, Malayalee, Telugu, Sikh, and Bengali communities.
In honour of the Indian New Year, several Singaporean ministers and dignitaries took to social media to share their well-wishes.
The Tamil New Year or “puthandu” is traditionally celebrated on April 14 each year, signifying renewal, prosperity, and the start of spring. Vaisakhi, also observed on the same day in Singapore, commemorates the year Sikhism emerged as a collective faith.
In his social media post on April 14, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam lauded the briyani as the “quintessential Indian dish” and presented it as a symbol of racial, religious, and cultural harmony.
He explained that the briyani, a dish widely believed to have originated in Persia (today’s Iran), has crossed geographies and cultures such that each region in India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia has evolved their own famous styles of briyani.
“My own choice these days is vegetable briyani,” Mr Tharman said, adding that “it’s in fact a fast-growing, healthy and environmentally friendly choice in India, where briyani is the most popular food order.”
On the same day, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shared a New Year greeting on social media, opening his post with the Tamil phrase, ‘இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துகள்!’”
PM Wong also extended his well wishes to the local Sikh and Malayalee communities, which also celebrated Vaisakhi and Vishu (Malayalam New Year) respectively.
“Though expressed in different ways, they share a common spirit of renewal and fresh beginnings – reflecting the rich diversity that shapes our shared home in Singapore,” he added, fostering a sense of togetherness in a more divided world.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted how Singapore is fortunate to have diverse communities, races, and religions that share strong bonds of trust and understanding, with places of worship and common spaces that allow for the observation and appreciation of different religious traditions.
Mr Lee also encouraged the public to explore the vibrant activities that the Indian Heritage Centre and the Little India Shopowners’ & Heritage Association have organised to mark this festive period.
“I wish all who are celebrating a blessed and joyous year ahead with your loved ones!,” he said.
Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong also echoed his appreciation for the rich heritage, shared values and harmony within the various Indian communities in Singapore.
“These celebrations are united by a common spirit of hope, renewal and togetherness. Wishing our Indian community in Singapore a happy new year and wonderful festive season - may the year ahead be filled with joy, harmony and new possibilities,” Mr Tong said.
Minister of State for Culture, Community & Youth and Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash shared his heartfelt wishes on social media for those who celebrate the Tamil New Year and the start of the harvest season in Singapore.
“It is celebrated throughout India, the Indian diaspora and by many countries in South-East Asia, by different names,” Mr Dinesh said. “Wishing everyone and your families, Puthandu Vazthukal, Vishu Ashamsagal, Ugadi Subhakankshalu, Subho Noboborsho and Vaisakhi di Lakh Lakh Vadhaiyan!”
Member of Parliament for West Coast-Jurong West GRC Hamid Razak employed the metaphor of “அறுசுவை” or “six tastes” in Tamil in his festive well-wishes.
He poetically likened the six tastes, namely sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty, and astringency (an indirect translation of “thuvarppu”), to some moments in life, which are meant to be felt, not explained.
“This Tamil New Year, may we embrace every taste of the journey,” Dr Hamid said.
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9 Apr 2026 20:28
