A Temple at Temple Street

Included in the list of my many requests from my sister was the visit to a temple and a church. Early the day after our arrival, we walked the streets of Singapore towards Chinatown. We were fortunate to have come to this place where a temple was built, a Hindu temple.

People were removing their footwear before entering the temple. It is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple. One can enter the temple without any fee unless you will be using your camera, for you will have to pay 3 Singapore dollars (but it's worth going inside to take photos or video footages).

It was such a lovely day, a day to give thanks to our Maker. I was truly grateful just being there in a wonderful country with my wonderful kid sister whom I haven't been with like this for ages.

The Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. It is an agamic temple, built in the Dravidian style. Located at No. 244 South Bridge Road, in the downtown Chinatown district, the temple serves mainly South Indian Tamil Hindu Singaporeans in the city-state. Due to its architectural and historical significance, the temple has been gazetted a National Monument and is a major tourist attraction. Sri Mariamman Temple is managed by the Hindu Endowments Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

The Sri Mariamman Temple was founded in 1827 by Naraina Pillai, eight years after the British East India Company established a trading settlement in Singapore.

Pillai was a government clerk from Penang who arrived in Singapore with Stamford Raffles on his second visit to the island in May 1819. He went on to set up the island's first construction company. He also entered the textile trade. Pillai rapidly established himself in business and was identified as a leader of the Indian community.


Once every 12 years, in keeping with Hindu tradition, the temple is reconsecrated. The unique annual fire-walking ceremony is held about a week before Deepavali -- the Festival of Lights.

Source: Wikipedia

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