Tampines Musical and Cultural Arts Fiesta & Harmonious Celebrations @ Tampines

Last Sunday  28 July 2013, I took Arshi to the open space near Tampines MRT for Tampines Musical and Cultural Arts Fiesta.As I had already registered for the event , I received  a goody bag .There were some booths which sold traditional food items and we were given food vouchers as part of our tickets.Free tickets were given to all those who had registered before.We can use them in any stall .As most of the stalls sold Non-Veg items like Sathay,chicken rice(famous traditional food items among  Singaporeans), I choose to have Ice-cream bar and Ice Milo for myself and Arshi.

food stalls

queue for the redemption of goody bag

Arshi trying the mango flavor ice bar

a pose with Arshi

We were given picnic mat in the goody bag.So there was a picnic feel as we were enjoying the music and food.

happy families all in their smiles on a lazy Sunday evening.

The stage all ready for the entertainment

MP ringing the traditional Chinese bell to begin the event

Crowd already gathered around

SCO-Singapore Chinese Orchestra performing in the stage.They used Chinese instruments to play their pieces.They rendered music pieces from different ethnic groups and all of them were national day songs-songs that inspire a  nation.Though many  of the musical pieces were new to me , I enjoyed the music.I could see many people becoming emotional and they too sang along the music.Even Arshi was able to sing a  song and identify a  few songs.Music really binds all people  no matter what your race or language is.That's why I call Music as an universal language on its own.

I was touched when the Conductor of the day-Quek Ling Kiong(seen in the middle) ,informed that his grandma had passed away only a few hours ago.I was seeing how calm and composed he was conducting the show perfectly even when there was a personal grief in his family.My salutations for him.

with a friend

it's getting dark....but look at the audience....they are enjoying as  a family

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a funny moment with her classmate whom we spotted at the Fiesta

a happy family-my friend's family

posing with Sanju

Tampines Primary School's Junior Choir performing at the fiesta. Arshi was proud when her school came on the stage and her classmate Kean was also part of it.She was cheering for him.....

it's getting darker, but the audience are still enjoying the performance

 a Kathak performance(a north Indian dance form)

A Malay performance.I found it too lovely.All the performers were fasting ,as it is the month of Ramadan.Yet they performed with full zeal and enthusiasm.

A Peranakan fusion performance where I learnt about a little bit about lemon grass,Pandan leaves and other stuff which I usually see in the supermarket - but which I had never bought.After that performance, I feel I may buy those stuff and try in my cooking too.....

I was there in the fiesta throughout and both myself and Arshi had  a great time  there.Saw many people turned up for the event along with their family and friends.Looking forward for another community event in the near future.As National Day is nearing, I see lot of posters on community celebrations and I should plan to join in these events as  they provide an opportunity for us residents to get to know more about the place and people around you.I spotted  a few friends. What I thought to be  a normal cultural performance turned out to be  a picnic on its own way, get-together with my friends and getting to know different cultures and their art form in a  single place at the same evening that too in my very own neighborhood.

Singapore Heritage Fest 2013-City Square mall 'Magical Moments’

This Friday I took Arshi to a place that would fascinate everybody.I took her to City Square Mall to take  a peek on "Magical Moments".The heritage of magic in Singapore and the local magicians , their tricks were explained in the exhibit in  an interesting way.Some of the props they used were displayed too.There were a row of magical shows for kids and I was sure to bring Arshi the next day.
A glimpse of what was there at the Exhibit.

So, this Saturday I headed to City Square mall and watched 2 performances.I was too late, but never mind, I managed to see 2 magic acts both done by local talents who have already marked their names in the Magical history of Singapore. Arshi enjoyed it a lot.I could see happiness in almost everyone's face including adults.Even my hubby who came for the Saturday's event was enjoying the show.

Caption Amazing in action.I loved this part where he was using ventriloquism technique which attracts all kids and sharing the heritage of Singapore in an interesting way.He explained how Singapore got its name and many more things about our national flower Orchid.

we also love the Kit and Kai Show where the duo performed without usage of words.they were very interactive and involved the audience too in their performance. They even involved me as I was taking pictures of them by giving poses.I loved it.

Even I got  a chance to participate in a stage game by using sign language to tell words along with an audience and managed to get $10 fairprice voucher.My hubby didn't take pictures of mine while being in the stage. Opps.....

Click here    to see my blog post on my visit to Century Square on Monumental Weddings.
and   here   to Bugis Junction on Swingling Sixties-the musical history of the past Singapore.

Singapore Heritage board is taking its very best efforts to bring the heritage of Singapore to the heartlands. I hope many would have gained some knowledge about Singapore's past culture and Heritage by being at these hubs and for those who have been living here for long or for naturalized Singaporeans, these exhibits would have been a remembering story for them-of their own childhood days,wedding in those days,and many more.Though I was there only to 3 hubs ,I learnt a few things about Singapore.I hope in the days to come the special performance maybe extended to more days rather then on weekends and the hours too may be extended.As such almost all hubs had their special performances starting form around 1.00 pm and they ended by around 6.00 pm which I feel is too short.Maybe if the special performance were there throughout the day with some gaps in between maybe the exhibit could have attracted even more audience as I feel the real shopping crowd comes mostly in the evening.By  the time they come, the show would have ended.More publicity measures could have also been taken so the news of  the exhibit reaches the maximum number of target audience.I loved the way the three exhibits I visited over the  last 2 weekends was organised and hoped I could cover many more hubs.But time was the major constraint.

Singapore Heritage Fest 2013_ Bugis Junction

As promised last week, I headed not to just 1 place but 2 different places this Friday to have a peek into Heritage Fest.Hope the programs were spread throughout the weekday too so that heartlanders would have time to enjoy all the hubs.This Friday, I went to Bugis Junction .Though there weren't any special events, it was my first visit to Bugis Junction.I loved the architecture of the mall.It was set up reminding anyone of the olden eras.I loved the design of the sign boards.Take a look yourself.I wonder how I had missed this mall all these years.

‘The Swinging Sixties’ exhibit.I went thru the exhibit but failed to take pics of them.I could relate yo certain things.

A loud speaker I found in the exhibit.I remember having this at my grandpa's house too.Just got reminded of him as he got  a collection of cassettes ranging from Tamil film songs, to devotional songs,Hindi songs,pop songs and everything.He had dedicated  room for it.Sometimes speaking of heritage, brings back old memories, no matter where you stay.I could see form these exhibits, people had shared almost same passion,childhood games in different parts of Asia-India and Singapore.I too remember many boys playing marbles, girls playing hopscotch and lots more in common.

loved the sign board

3D art in front of  Bugis+

the lamp posts looked traditional.

Maybe I should have come during weekends to know more .But I did enjoy exploring this place I have never been before.


Click here to read my blog post on Heritage Fest on Monumental Weddings at Century Square and   here   to see blog post about Magical Moments at City Square Mall.

Singapore Heritage Fest 2013 @ Century Square:Monumental Weddings

I have heard of Singapore Heritage Fest before, but this is the first year I came across it.It is quite interesting to be there.

I accidentally saw the Singapore Heritage Fest in Century Square after my way back home from Library.There were many activities for Children and all those activities were planned in relation to the different races and their weddings. Luckily this event coincides with Racial Harmony Day where Singapore celebrates racial harmony.I was able to show the diverse culture of Singapore at the exhibit.The wedding dresses of different races were also there in the exhibition area and I was thrilled  to see all these things right in the middle of  a mall.

Malay Wedding dress

Indian Wedding dress

Chinese Wedding Dress

Eurasian Wedding dress

Some funny snaps with her friend Lakshu

I would have  to travel to a  museum or visit 4 different weddings if I have to see these wedding costumes. There were booths showcasing things from different cultures to try too.Arshi tried her hands on making paper cuttings,finished puzzle pieces as part of Chinese wedding.I had made the character meaning "Fu" in Chinese paper cutting that meant prosperity.

Character "Fu" meaning prosperity

We even learnt how to make Bunga Manggar, used for Malay weddings.

I have seen this one at several Malay weddings that used to happen at our blocks Void deck.Malay weddings usually interested me as there were so many colors and the decor were very unique and lovely.I loved the table decos and everything.They followed their own tradition .I loved the music that was played too.I could hear lot of Bollywood hits being played and one of friends told me that they love hearing Bollywood songs.During those occasions,I had always wondering about the significance of the Bunga Manggar.But Now I knew why.

We also made Wedding Corsages that are used for Eurasian Weddings.They were made out of real leaves and flowers.Myself and Arshi tried our hands on that and we wore them as brooches for that day.

Finally for Indian Weddings, Mehandi art was demonstrated and we too decorated our hands with the beautiful mehandi.

The exhibit area really impressed me a  lot.

I learnt to know about ancient wedding styles and how mass weddings took place during those period.I was fascinated to see many wedding portraits at unusual monuments.I never knew, these monuments had other side too in many people's life.Wedding portraitist at Tanjong Pagar Railway station was some thing unique.

The temple weddings like the ones that happened in Hindu temples too were shown in the exhibit.This type of weddings is quite common in India as well as Singapore and I made it a  point to take photos of such weddings in future if I chanced upon  any in the future.

I went through the 64 national monuments pics that are there in Singapore.I have seen only a  few as I had been to the monuments tour in the year 2011.So decided, I should try to cover other monuments too in the days to come.

I also came  to know that an enactment of South Indian Hindu Wedding was going to be staged that evening, I decided to come back with Arshi after a short relaxation in my house.We headed back to the mall  refreshed and I was really surprised to see a mini wedding decor amid st the busy mall.As I too hail from South India , I wanted to see how Weddings are conducted in Singapore.The casts were all dressed in their weddings costumes and the whole process of wedding were briefed to the audience  within 30 minutes.

The host for this occasion was Ananda Kannan, one of my favourite TV personality.

I also had a chance to greet him and got Arshi photograph with him.Arshi and her friend Lakshana danced to the wedding song with the troupe to my surprise

and finally everyone got  a chance to pose for group photographs which is actually done in a real wedding too.

Taking Arshi for  a second time on the same day was worth it.

This Sunday, I again had  to shop at Century Square and chanced to see the bride and groom on stilts.

They were roving around in the mall and greeting the shoppers.

Now I knew why National Heritage Board had chosen malls as one of their main locations for choosing to display their exhibits.It's where traffic is heavy during weekends and the chance of reaching out to the masses is high.There are many more activities too at Century Square next week and I am sure gonna take Arshi along with me  .I am also planning to visit City Square Mall -an exhibit is there as well ,this Friday when going to drop Arshi for her music class.Will share if I find the exhibits interesting .

The Singapore Heritage Fest 2013 is running in many parts of Singapore.
You can check out their website if you are interested to know more about this fest if you happen to reside in Singapore.
www.heritagefest.org.sg


Click    here  to read my blog post on The Swinging Sixties exhibit at Bugis Junction and here on "The Magical Moments" at City Square Mall.