HEAR ME ROAR A short introduction by the editor 01 Your Editor, Durion Hi Kids! Welcome to the sixth issue of Red & White, our bimonthly e-newsletter, which gives you fun facts and brings you updates from home. This month, our Indian friends will be celebrating Deepavali, the festival of light, on the 13th lunar day of the 7th month of the Hindu calendar. In this issue, we are going to explore the Indian culture and their festivals! In the Topic of the Month, we will uncover facts and the history of the Indian culture in Singapore! You will learn all about your Indian friends – what and how they eat, live and play. You can test your newfound knowledge with some fun apps we have found in On The Market! We explore the world of Indian culture with the Chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association, Mr. Rajakumar Chandra in "Who's Talking"! Enjoy this issue of Red & White and share what you know with all your friends! WHAT'S GOING ON? Recent happenings in the our world 02 DEEPAVALI CELEBRATIONS This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Deepavali celebrations in Singapore. Organised by the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association(LISHA),itbeginson27thSeptember and ends on 6th November. One of the highlights is the elaborate decoration of lights set up along Little India. The theme for this year's decoration is 'celebration', and features Radha and Krishna, divine lovers in Hindu mythology. They sit on a swing on the centrepiece of the festive decoration and welcome visitors to Little India. 750 intellectually and physically disabled people also contributed to this year's decoration by designing 55,000 recycled CDs with traditional Indian art. This took them nearly 12,000 hours. Mr Rajakumar Chandra, the chairman of LISHA, said,"It was a very touching experience for us, we never thought that such things would bring such happiness and fulfilment to these people." Another highlight is the Deepavali Festival Village, which is a bustling bazaar where various items like Indian ethnic wear, jewellery, festive cookies and tidbits, are sold. Other festivities include various competitions, craft exhibitions and performances. RADHA KRISHNA BEST DRESSED COMPETITION Thirteen children took part in the Radha Krishna Best-Dressed Competition on 5th October this year. The best-dressed competition is an annual event, with different themes each year. To reflect this year's decorations, the theme for this year is the gods, Radha and Krishna. Radha was a human being and soul mate of Krishna, who is a god. However Krishna's duties as a King separated him from her. It is said that Radha kept waiting for him to come back and her love was so pure that she obtained the status of a goddess. Radha and Krishna got to be together in the end. Competing in pairs consisting of one girl, as Radha, and one boy as Krishna, the children were judged on how accurate their portrayal of the gods were through their costumes and their 'one-minute of fame' on stage. One brave boy posing as Krishna even went on stage twice to accompany a girl, posing as Radha, who did not have a partner. After their time on stage, the children paraded along the festival streets of Little India, gaining the attention of many passer-bys and their cameras too. The competition ended with a group photo and the prize giving ceremony. TOPIC OF THE MONTH All you need to know about our Indian Culture in Singapore 03 FOOD South Asia has been growing, using and trading spices since ancient times. With the Indians mainly originating from South Asia, it is no wonder that a lot of spices are incorporated into their cuisine. The Indian food in Singapore is slightly different from those in other countries, as they have been modified to suit local tastes. Well-known Indian dishes include curry dishes such as fish head curry, murtabak (pancake stuffed with minced meat served with curry or tomato sauce, among other ingredients), Indian rojak (salad dish with mixed ingredients), tandoori chicken (roasted chicken in a clay oven prepared with spices and yogurt), and teh tarik (Indian milk tea). Some dishes are so popular in Singapore that all races in Singapore eat them. Roti Prata is one such example. It is a flour-based pancake fried or cooked over a flat grill. It is traditionally served with different types of curry, or sugar. Over the years, more flavours of roti prata have been created that are popular with the younger generation, such as mushroom, cheese, chocolate, and even ice-cream prata. Indians are the third largest ethnic group in Singapore, making up about 9% of our population. Most of the Indians migrated to Singapore after Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore in 1819. Most of the Indians in Singapore were young men who came to work, mostly for manufacturing and construction sectors. Indians in Singapore come from different parts of India and are diverse in their spoken languages and beliefs. Let us find out more about our Indian friends and their culture! www.delivery.superstock.com Did you know? As many Indians are Hindus, beef is not available in all Indian eateries as cows are considered sacred animals. DINING ETIQUETTE Different cultures have different sets of table manners or rules when it comes to dining. The Indian culture also has a proper eating etiquette. Just like the Malays (see 5th issue of Red & White) Indians traditionally use their right hands for eating. They often use their fingers to pick up bread to scoop up food and gravy into their mouths. Due to this practice, they wash their hands very thoroughly before meals and it is considered unhygienic to keep long fingernails. The left hand is considered unclean and is never used for meals. Spoons are also used when the dish is particularly soupy, or during formal occasions. Spoons and forks are also used to distribute food from a communal dish, as it is impolite to touch the food of others. www.veekeong.com MURTABAK ROJAK www.camemberu.com www.risdian.com PRATA www.wikipedia.com TEH TARIK LANGUAGES Singapore's Indian community consists of a majority of ethnic Tamils from both India and Sri Lanka. The second largest group of Indians are the Malayalees from South India. Other Indians from north and east India are the Punjabi, Hindustani, Sindhi, Gujarati and Sinhalese. These groups of Indians each have their own language. In Singapore, most Indians speak English and Tamil, while about 11% of them speak Malay. Another 11% speak other Indian languages such as Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION The same gesture or action can mean different things in different cultures. In the Indian culture, some gestures can be misunderstood by people who are not familiar with their meanings. A very common greeting style for the Indians is the "Namaste", where the hands are pressed together in a prayer-like gesture, with the palms together and fingers pointing upwards. It is accompanied by a slight bow and is sometimes done with a spoken greeting. "Namaste" literally means "salutation to you" and is done as a form of respectful greeting. Another commonly misinterpreted gesture is the way Indians shake their heads from side to side. Shaking their head means they agree with you. For most other cultures, such as Western ones, the shaking of the head usually means "No". This is why the Indians are sometimes misunderstood. www.c-radhakrishnan.info The tamil alphabet RELIGION Indians are a religiously diverse group in Singapore. More than half of the Indians in Singapore are Hindus, while about a quarter of them are Muslim. Other religions include Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. There are about 35 temples serving Hindus in Singapore. Some Indian communities have even set up their own temples, such as the North Indian community who established the Sri Lakshminarayan Temple in North Indian style, and the Sri Lankan Tamil community who established the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple. FESTIVALS Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day Hindu festival that takes place between October and November. Clay lamps are lit to signify the triumph of good over evil and the presence of light in darkness. They also use firecrackers to drive away evil spirits, and wear new clothes and feast upon sweets and snacks with their loved ones, much like Chinese New Year. The 3rd day of Deepavali marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and propriety. Deepavali often starts on the day Indian communities begin their financial year, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated between January and February, where it is the full moon in the Tamil month of "Thai". "Pusam", a star, is at its highest point during this festival. During Thaipusam, devotees bear a physical burden, and travel a set path to a temple, where they pray for blessings for their loved ones. This signifies carrying a burden for them as they believe in repaying the gods for the blessings received. MARRIAGES Hindu marriages last for many days and are a grand affair. A Hindu wedding is traditionally conducted partially in Sanskrit, as with many other Hindu ceremonies, as Sanskrit is considered the sacred language of Hinduism. The pre-wedding phase includes an engagement involving an oral agreement and a written declaration. The Holy Fire, also known as the fire deity, is the messenger of gods, as well as the God of Sacrifices. The Holy Fire has two heads, one signifying immortality while the other signifies life. The Holy Fire is considered the witness of the wedding. The bride's father and brothers would then go to the groom's house, bearing gifts as a sign of acceptance of the proposal and marriage. This informs the groom that he can no longer look for other brides. The groom's family would then organise a feast to celebrate this, usually with close family members and relatives only. Afterwards, Byaha Haath takes place. It is a ceremony signifying the purification of the mind, body and soul of the bride and groom. It prepares them for the nuptials. 7 unmarried female members of the family will apply a mixed paste of sandalwood, turmeric and rose water to the faces of the couple. The wedding ceremony will then take place, where the couple walks around the Holy Fire seven times, exchanging vows with each round. They Did you know? A lot of marriages in India are arranged marriages, where the bride and groom's parents look for prospective spouses and arrange the wedding for them. These marriages are not based on love but mutually beneficial weddings for both families. The relationship is then nurtured and grown after marriage. http://www.surrealmedialabs.com FUNERALS The Indian funeral, is known as Antyesti. The death rites and rituals begin when the person is believed to be dying, before the actual death. Rites are then performed for the proper disposal of the body. Then, rites are performed to ensure the soul can transit successfully to the realm of the ancestors. Lastly, rites are performed in honour of the Pitrs, which are the spirits of the ancestors. If a person dies in a different country, in a war or in any manner where his body cannot be retrieved, the funeral takes place without his body. All the rites still take place as though the body was present. If somehow, the person is discovered to be alive, resurrections rituals must be done before the person can be considered amongst the living. Did you know? Cremation is the most common way Indians use to dispose of bodies, as it is believed that cremation purifies and purges sins from the lifetime. However, infants, yogis and sadhus cannot be cremated. Yogis and sadhus are people who are considered holy and pure and thus do not require cremation. DANCE There are many types of dance in the Indian culture, including classical dance, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Odissi, Sattriya, folk and tribal dances. Some of these dances are performed in temples. Odissi is believed to be the oldest surviving dance from India. It involves the signature stamping of the foot and performing various positions seen in Indian sculptures. http://farm3.static.flickr.com TRADITIONAL COSTUMES The traditional costumes for women are Saris and Ghagra Cholis, while the men wear Dhoti and Sarongs. Children wear the Pattu Pavadai. A Sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from 4 to 9 metres in length and is draped over the body in different ways. One common way is for the Sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder-baring midriff. A Dhoti is a white strip of cotton held in place with a belt around the waist. It is often ornamental or embroidered. Sarongs, also known as Lungis, are traditional Indian garments. It is tucked in over the waist and is usually knee-length, or is allowed to lay over and reach up to the ankle. The open sarong is a plain sheet of cotton or silk, whereas a stitched one has both ends stitched together to form a tube like structure. MUSIC Indian music is very expressive. Some Indian music is influenced by old scriptures in the Hindu culture, and Persian music. Although instruments like violins are used, Indians have a wide variety of their own traditional instruments, such as the Sitar (plucked string instrument) and Tanpura Did you know? Instead of Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti, the seven notes for Indian music are Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni. http://s1.hubimg.com ON THE MARKET Fun Apps To Try 04 TABLA HD https://itunes.apple.com/no/app/tabla-hd-free/ id453786586?mt=8 Tabla is pair of hand drums of different sizes often used in Hindustani music. This app allows you to try your hand at Tabla drumming. Tap on different parts of the drum and you will hear different sounds, just like the real instrument. HENNA DESIGNS h t t p s : / / p l a y. g o o g l e . c o m / store/apps/details?id=com. a50816916350c0ebe7a3b4f1a. a76725208a&hl=en Start learning how to create your own authentic henna design with this app. It has how-to videos, tips, and a henna art gallery. You can also read news about henna art. INDIAN RECIPES https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netsummitapps. indianrecipes&hl=en Watch interesting videos that teach you how to cook delicious Indian curry and a variety of other Indian dishes. With new recipes added everyday, it is your one stop Indian food cookbook. www.henna32.blogspot.com WHO'S TALKING? Get a peek into Indiant Culture 05 We spoke to Mr Rajakumar Chandra, Chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA). He works closely with ensuring the Indian customs and tradition is kept vibrant in Little India, as well as in Singapore. He also looks to the upkeep of Little India's heritage. This experienced professional shares with us some insights to Indian culture and his responsibility to Indian culture. How many years have you been the chairman of LISHA? I've been the chairman of LISHA for the last 6 years. LISHA was founded in the year 2000 and was set up as part of the Singapore Tourism Board. How does LISHA help to preserve the Indian culture? Little India has not changed much from the years before – the selling of flowers, spices and traditional Indian clothing keeps the business going, as well as the tradition. Little India has a lot of attachments to the local Indians – they feel at home here. So, every decision we make, we will think about the community, the businesses, and their feedback, what they want, what they don't want. For example, if there is a need for a road closure, we gather the feedback from the community and bring that to the relevant agencies. What do you like best about Little India and why? Little India is very vibrant. When you look at the icon of Little India, it is a lotus flower, with five petals. These five petals represent the five senses. It means experiencing Little India through your five senses. Taste – we have Indian food restaurants. Ear – for the Indian music, there are many Indian music shops. Nose – is the smell of flowers. Eyes – you can see the Indian handicrafts and designs. This logo represents Little India. How is Deepavali celebrated in Singapore? When I was young, Deepavali means a lot of celebration for us. We wear new clothing, get packets with money, receive blessings from our elders, eat a lot of food and visit our relatives. Deepavali is actually celebrated very differently in different parts of India. The Singaporean context is celebration, but in the Indian context, it is our new year, and also a very religious occasion.A lot of families go to temples in the morning to start out their day with their prayers. C e l e b r a t i o n comes after that. What are the future plans for Little India? We're currently building the Indian Heritage Centre in the heart of Little India, on Campbell Lane. Campbell Lane would be converted into a pedestrian-only area and it should be completed in the year 2015. I think this is good because visitors can really understand the Indian culture and tradition, how our forefathers have come here to build the country and how the Indian heritage is preserved. If you have a chance to showcase the Indian culture to overseas Singaporean children, what would you do? The most important thing is to get the children to wear the traditional Indian costume. They look marvellous. Also, putting the bindi (traditionally a bright red dot applied in the centre of the forehead close to the eyebrows), telling them what it is for, and also tasting the Indian titbits and food. I think when you get them to do these things, they really want to get themselves involved and learn the culture. Little India is rich in culture and heritage all year round, so do visit it when you return to Singapore with your family and friends to have a first hand experience with Indian culture! PICTURE A STORY Comics for fun 06 WHAT'S COOKING? Be your own chef with this simple recipe Steps: 1. In a hot pan, add oil and fry the minced lamb for 3mins, or until the lamb is brown. 2. Pour in YEO's curry sauce and let it cook for 20mins until the lamb is tender. 3. Remove and set aside. 4. Place tortilla wraps on a plate and spread the lamb mixture evenly. 5. Top with the vegetables and cover with mozzarella cheese. 6. Let it bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 10mins, or until cheese is nicely browned. 07 Ingredients: - 500g minced lamb - 1 can YEO's Malaysia Curry Sauce - 4 tbsp YEO's Light Soy sauce - 2tbsp YEO's dark soy sauce - 8 Tortilla Wraps - 50g sliced garlic - 150g sliced onions - 150g sliced tri-colour bell peppers - Olive oil as desired - 250g mozzarella cheese, shredded Learn how to make delicious curry lamb tortilla pizza in this recipe brought to you exclusively by Yeo's. Serves 4 Preparation time: 20mins Cooking Time: 35mins END OF ISSUE Look forward to the next issue - Chinese Culture For more fun, go to the Children's Corner on OSU Portal at http://www.overseassingaporean.sg/staying- abroad#children-corner
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HEAR ME ROAR A short introduction by the editor 01 Your Editor, Durion Hi Kids! Welcome to the sixth issue of Red & White, our bimonthly e-newsletter, which gives you fun facts and brings you updates from home. This month, our Indian friends will be celebrating Deepavali, the festival of light, on the 13th lunar day of the 7th month of the Hindu calendar. In this issue, we are going to explore the Indian culture and their festivals! In the Topic of the Month, we will uncover facts and the history of the Indian culture in Singapore! You will learn all about your Indian friends – what and how they eat, live and play. You can test your newfound knowledge with some fun apps we have found in On The Market! We explore the world of Indian culture with the Chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association, Mr. Rajakumar Chandra in "Who's Talking"! Enjoy this issue of Red & White and share what you know with all your friends! WHAT'S GOING ON? Recent happenings in the our world 02 DEEPAVALI CELEBRATIONS This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Deepavali celebrations in Singapore. Organised by the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association(LISHA),itbeginson27thSeptember and ends on 6th November. One of the highlights is the elaborate decoration of lights set up along Little India. The theme for this year's decoration is 'celebration', and features Radha and Krishna, divine lovers in Hindu mythology. They sit on a swing on the centrepiece of the festive decoration and welcome visitors to Little India. 750 intellectually and physically disabled people also contributed to this year's decoration by designing 55,000 recycled CDs with traditional Indian art. This took them nearly 12,000 hours. Mr Rajakumar Chandra, the chairman of LISHA, said,"It was a very touching experience for us, we never thought that such things would bring such happiness and fulfilment to these people." Another highlight is the Deepavali Festival Village, which is a bustling bazaar where various items like Indian ethnic wear, jewellery, festive cookies and tidbits, are sold. Other festivities include various competitions, craft exhibitions and performances. RADHA KRISHNA BEST DRESSED COMPETITION Thirteen children took part in the Radha Krishna Best-Dressed Competition on 5th October this year. The best-dressed competition is an annual event, with different themes each year. To reflect this year's decorations, the theme for this year is the gods, Radha and Krishna. Radha was a human being and soul mate of Krishna, who is a god. However Krishna's duties as a King separated him from her. It is said that Radha kept waiting for him to come back and her love was so pure that she obtained the status of a goddess. Radha and Krishna got to be together in the end. Competing in pairs consisting of one girl, as Radha, and one boy as Krishna, the children were judged on how accurate their portrayal of the gods were through their costumes and their 'one-minute of fame' on stage. One brave boy posing as Krishna even went on stage twice to accompany a girl, posing as Radha, who did not have a partner. After their time on stage, the children paraded along the festival streets of Little India, gaining the attention of many passer-bys and their cameras too. The competition ended with a group photo and the prize giving ceremony. TOPIC OF THE MONTH All you need to know about our Indian Culture in Singapore 03 FOOD South Asia has been growing, using and trading spices since ancient times. With the Indians mainly originating from South Asia, it is no wonder that a lot of spices are incorporated into their cuisine. The Indian food in Singapore is slightly different from those in other countries, as they have been modified to suit local tastes. Well-known Indian dishes include curry dishes such as fish head curry, murtabak (pancake stuffed with minced meat served with curry or tomato sauce, among other ingredients), Indian rojak (salad dish with mixed ingredients), tandoori chicken (roasted chicken in a clay oven prepared with spices and yogurt), and teh tarik (Indian milk tea). Some dishes are so popular in Singapore that all races in Singapore eat them. Roti Prata is one such example. It is a flour-based pancake fried or cooked over a flat grill. It is traditionally served with different types of curry, or sugar. Over the years, more flavours of roti prata have been created that are popular with the younger generation, such as mushroom, cheese, chocolate, and even ice-cream prata. Indians are the third largest ethnic group in Singapore, making up about 9% of our population. Most of the Indians migrated to Singapore after Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore in 1819. Most of the Indians in Singapore were young men who came to work, mostly for manufacturing and construction sectors. Indians in Singapore come from different parts of India and are diverse in their spoken languages and beliefs. Let us find out more about our Indian friends and their culture! www.delivery.superstock.com Did you know? As many Indians are Hindus, beef is not available in all Indian eateries as cows are considered sacred animals. DINING ETIQUETTE Different cultures have different sets of table manners or rules when it comes to dining. The Indian culture also has a proper eating etiquette. Just like the Malays (see 5th issue of Red & White) Indians traditionally use their right hands for eating. They often use their fingers to pick up bread to scoop up food and gravy into their mouths. Due to this practice, they wash their hands very thoroughly before meals and it is considered unhygienic to keep long fingernails. The left hand is considered unclean and is never used for meals. Spoons are also used when the dish is particularly soupy, or during formal occasions. Spoons and forks are also used to distribute food from a communal dish, as it is impolite to touch the food of others. www.veekeong.com MURTABAK ROJAK www.camemberu.com www.risdian.com PRATA www.wikipedia.com TEH TARIK LANGUAGES Singapore's Indian community consists of a majority of ethnic Tamils from both India and Sri Lanka. The second largest group of Indians are the Malayalees from South India. Other Indians from north and east India are the Punjabi, Hindustani, Sindhi, Gujarati and Sinhalese. These groups of Indians each have their own language. In Singapore, most Indians speak English and Tamil, while about 11% of them speak Malay. Another 11% speak other Indian languages such as Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION The same gesture or action can mean different things in different cultures. In the Indian culture, some gestures can be misunderstood by people who are not familiar with their meanings. A very common greeting style for the Indians is the "Namaste", where the hands are pressed together in a prayer-like gesture, with the palms together and fingers pointing upwards. It is accompanied by a slight bow and is sometimes done with a spoken greeting. "Namaste" literally means "salutation to you" and is done as a form of respectful greeting. Another commonly misinterpreted gesture is the way Indians shake their heads from side to side. Shaking their head means they agree with you. For most other cultures, such as Western ones, the shaking of the head usually means "No". This is why the Indians are sometimes misunderstood. www.c-radhakrishnan.info The tamil alphabet RELIGION Indians are a religiously diverse group in Singapore. More than half of the Indians in Singapore are Hindus, while about a quarter of them are Muslim. Other religions include Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. There are about 35 temples serving Hindus in Singapore. Some Indian communities have even set up their own temples, such as the North Indian community who established the Sri Lakshminarayan Temple in North Indian style, and the Sri Lankan Tamil community who established the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple. FESTIVALS Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day Hindu festival that takes place between October and November. Clay lamps are lit to signify the triumph of good over evil and the presence of light in darkness. They also use firecrackers to drive away evil spirits, and wear new clothes and feast upon sweets and snacks with their loved ones, much like Chinese New Year. The 3rd day of Deepavali marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and propriety. Deepavali often starts on the day Indian communities begin their financial year, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated between January and February, where it is the full moon in the Tamil month of "Thai". "Pusam", a star, is at its highest point during this festival. During Thaipusam, devotees bear a physical burden, and travel a set path to a temple, where they pray for blessings for their loved ones. This signifies carrying a burden for them as they believe in repaying the gods for the blessings received. MARRIAGES Hindu marriages last for many days and are a grand affair. A Hindu wedding is traditionally conducted partially in Sanskrit, as with many other Hindu ceremonies, as Sanskrit is considered the sacred language of Hinduism. The pre-wedding phase includes an engagement involving an oral agreement and a written declaration. The Holy Fire, also known as the fire deity, is the messenger of gods, as well as the God of Sacrifices. The Holy Fire has two heads, one signifying immortality while the other signifies life. The Holy Fire is considered the witness of the wedding. The bride's father and brothers would then go to the groom's house, bearing gifts as a sign of acceptance of the proposal and marriage. This informs the groom that he can no longer look for other brides. The groom's family would then organise a feast to celebrate this, usually with close family members and relatives only. Afterwards, Byaha Haath takes place. It is a ceremony signifying the purification of the mind, body and soul of the bride and groom. It prepares them for the nuptials. 7 unmarried female members of the family will apply a mixed paste of sandalwood, turmeric and rose water to the faces of the couple. The wedding ceremony will then take place, where the couple walks around the Holy Fire seven times, exchanging vows with each round. They Did you know? A lot of marriages in India are arranged marriages, where the bride and groom's parents look for prospective spouses and arrange the wedding for them. These marriages are not based on love but mutually beneficial weddings for both families. The relationship is then nurtured and grown after marriage. http://www.surrealmedialabs.com FUNERALS The Indian funeral, is known as Antyesti. The death rites and rituals begin when the person is believed to be dying, before the actual death. Rites are then performed for the proper disposal of the body. Then, rites are performed to ensure the soul can transit successfully to the realm of the ancestors. Lastly, rites are performed in honour of the Pitrs, which are the spirits of the ancestors. If a person dies in a different country, in a war or in any manner where his body cannot be retrieved, the funeral takes place without his body. All the rites still take place as though the body was present. If somehow, the person is discovered to be alive, resurrections rituals must be done before the person can be considered amongst the living. Did you know? Cremation is the most common way Indians use to dispose of bodies, as it is believed that cremation purifies and purges sins from the lifetime. However, infants, yogis and sadhus cannot be cremated. Yogis and sadhus are people who are considered holy and pure and thus do not require cremation. DANCE There are many types of dance in the Indian culture, including classical dance, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Odissi, Sattriya, folk and tribal dances. Some of these dances are performed in temples. Odissi is believed to be the oldest surviving dance from India. It involves the signature stamping of the foot and performing various positions seen in Indian sculptures. http://farm3.static.flickr.com TRADITIONAL COSTUMES The traditional costumes for women are Saris and Ghagra Cholis, while the men wear Dhoti and Sarongs. Children wear the Pattu Pavadai. A Sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from 4 to 9 metres in length and is draped over the body in different ways. One common way is for the Sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder-baring midriff. A Dhoti is a white strip of cotton held in place with a belt around the waist. It is often ornamental or embroidered. Sarongs, also known as Lungis, are traditional Indian garments. It is tucked in over the waist and is usually knee-length, or is allowed to lay over and reach up to the ankle. The open sarong is a plain sheet of cotton or silk, whereas a stitched one has both ends stitched together to form a tube like structure. MUSIC Indian music is very expressive. Some Indian music is influenced by old scriptures in the Hindu culture, and Persian music. Although instruments like violins are used, Indians have a wide variety of their own traditional instruments, such as the Sitar (plucked string instrument) and Tanpura Did you know? Instead of Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti, the seven notes for Indian music are Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni. http://s1.hubimg.com ON THE MARKET Fun Apps To Try 04 TABLA HD https://itunes.apple.com/no/app/tabla-hd-free/ id453786586?mt=8 Tabla is pair of hand drums of different sizes often used in Hindustani music. This app allows you to try your hand at Tabla drumming. Tap on different parts of the drum and you will hear different sounds, just like the real instrument. HENNA DESIGNS h t t p s : / / p l a y. g o o g l e . c o m / store/apps/details?id=com. a50816916350c0ebe7a3b4f1a. a76725208a&hl=en Start learning how to create your own authentic henna design with this app. It has how-to videos, tips, and a henna art gallery. You can also read news about henna art. INDIAN RECIPES https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.netsummitapps. indianrecipes&hl=en Watch interesting videos that teach you how to cook delicious Indian curry and a variety of other Indian dishes. With new recipes added everyday, it is your one stop Indian food cookbook. www.henna32.blogspot.com WHO'S TALKING? Get a peek into Indiant Culture 05 We spoke to Mr Rajakumar Chandra, Chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA). He works closely with ensuring the Indian customs and tradition is kept vibrant in Little India, as well as in Singapore. He also looks to the upkeep of Little India's heritage. This experienced professional shares with us some insights to Indian culture and his responsibility to Indian culture. How many years have you been the chairman of LISHA? I've been the chairman of LISHA for the last 6 years. LISHA was founded in the year 2000 and was set up as part of the Singapore Tourism Board. How does LISHA help to preserve the Indian culture? Little India has not changed much from the years before – the selling of flowers, spices and traditional Indian clothing keeps the business going, as well as the tradition. Little India has a lot of attachments to the local Indians – they feel at home here. So, every decision we make, we will think about the community, the businesses, and their feedback, what they want, what they don't want. For example, if there is a need for a road closure, we gather the feedback from the community and bring that to the relevant agencies. What do you like best about Little India and why? Little India is very vibrant. When you look at the icon of Little India, it is a lotus flower, with five petals. These five petals represent the five senses. It means experiencing Little India through your five senses. Taste – we have Indian food restaurants. Ear – for the Indian music, there are many Indian music shops. Nose – is the smell of flowers. Eyes – you can see the Indian handicrafts and designs. This logo represents Little India. How is Deepavali celebrated in Singapore? When I was young, Deepavali means a lot of celebration for us. We wear new clothing, get packets with money, receive blessings from our elders, eat a lot of food and visit our relatives. Deepavali is actually celebrated very differently in different parts of India. The Singaporean context is celebration, but in the Indian context, it is our new year, and also a very religious occasion.A lot of families go to temples in the morning to start out their day with their prayers. C e l e b r a t i o n comes after that. What are the future plans for Little India? We're currently building the Indian Heritage Centre in the heart of Little India, on Campbell Lane. Campbell Lane would be converted into a pedestrian-only area and it should be completed in the year 2015. I think this is good because visitors can really understand the Indian culture and tradition, how our forefathers have come here to build the country and how the Indian heritage is preserved. If you have a chance to showcase the Indian culture to overseas Singaporean children, what would you do? The most important thing is to get the children to wear the traditional Indian costume. They look marvellous. Also, putting the bindi (traditionally a bright red dot applied in the centre of the forehead close to the eyebrows), telling them what it is for, and also tasting the Indian titbits and food. I think when you get them to do these things, they really want to get themselves involved and learn the culture. Little India is rich in culture and heritage all year round, so do visit it when you return to Singapore with your family and friends to have a first hand experience with Indian culture! PICTURE A STORY Comics for fun 06 WHAT'S COOKING? Be your own chef with this simple recipe Steps: 1. In a hot pan, add oil and fry the minced lamb for 3mins, or until the lamb is brown. 2. Pour in YEO's curry sauce and let it cook for 20mins until the lamb is tender. 3. Remove and set aside. 4. Place tortilla wraps on a plate and spread the lamb mixture evenly. 5. Top with the vegetables and cover with mozzarella cheese. 6. Let it bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 10mins, or until cheese is nicely browned. 07 Ingredients: - 500g minced lamb - 1 can YEO's Malaysia Curry Sauce - 4 tbsp YEO's Light Soy sauce - 2tbsp YEO's dark soy sauce - 8 Tortilla Wraps - 50g sliced garlic - 150g sliced onions - 150g sliced tri-colour bell peppers - Olive oil as desired - 250g mozzarella cheese, shredded Learn how to make delicious curry lamb tortilla pizza in this recipe brought to you exclusively by Yeo's. Serves 4 Preparation time: 20mins Cooking Time: 35mins END OF ISSUE Look forward to the next issue - Chinese Culture For more fun, go to the Children's Corner on OSU Portal at http://www.overseassingaporean.sg/staying- abroad#children-corner