Hindu Ashrams and Hindu Organizations

Hindu Endowments Board, Singapore

The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) is a Statutory Board under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports (MCYS).

The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) was formed in 1968 by an Act passed in parliament which transferred the management of 4 major Hindu temples from the Mohammedan and Hindu Endowments Board (MHEB). The MHEB was formed in 1907 by the Colonial Government in early Singapore to overcome shortcomings in the management of Hindu and Muslim religious entities.

In 1985, the Hindu Advisory Board (HAB) was established to advise the Government and HEB on matters of Hindu religion and customs. Both the Hindu Endowments Board and the Hindu Advisory Board are headed by Chairpersons appointed by the Minister for Community Development Youth and Sports. There are presently 16 members in HEB and 12 members in HAB.

In addition to managing Sri Mariamman, Sri Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Sivan and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temples, the Hindu Endowments Board administers two Kindergartens and a Half way house where substance abusers are rehabilitated.

HEB’s involvement in community projects spans from free medical counselling services to bringing Deepavali joy to Little India through a street light up and trade fair held annually during the festive season. Underprivileged Singaporeans in community homes and charities are not forgotten and benefit through Deepavali Cheer, HEB’s annual festive care and share programme.

HEB is responsible for organizing major Hindu festivals like Thaipusam and Firewalking. It also helps other Hindu temples in Singapore on staff matters, religious issues and getting land for relocation of temples. HEB actively supports and is involved in inter religious activities and community service projects organized by the various religious groups in Singapore.

Programmes

PROJECT BAKTHI

Project Bakthi is an outreach programme organized by the Hindu Endowments Board where Hinduism classes are taught to Primary school children. Children as young as 5yrs old are eligible to participate in the programme which is held on Sunday mornings. Each year more than 200 children partake in these Hinduism classes which are conducted at local Hindu temples.


Over the past three and a half years, Project Bakthi has been running at various temples located at satellite towns. These classes are meant to encourage students living in the vicinity of a neighbourhood temple to attend one and be involved in temple activities. The seven temples where classes are conducted are:

1) Murugan Hill Temple (Bukit Panjang)
2) Sri Sivan Temple (Geylang East)
3) Sri Siva Durga Temple (Potong Pasir)
4) Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple (Toa Payoh)
5) Sri Muneeswaran Temple (Queenstown)
6) Darma Muneeswaran Temple (Serangoon North)
7) Siva Krishna Temple (Woodlands)

Teachers are youths from various tertiary institutions who show a keen interest in community service. Youths are engaged to teach in the programme so that the children are better able to relate to the religious and moral concepts taught.
The syllabuses have been carefully formulated to suit young Singaporean children and make the religion relevant to them. Though Hinduism is being taught, the main focus of the programme is on moral education. Project Bakthi classes are conducted in English and encompass games, stories, quiz, puzzles, bhajans and recitation of mantras. Classes are made fun and enjoyable for the children.


Every year, Project Bakthi runs two twelve-week sessions - one in January and another in July. Each one of the twelve-week sessions ends with a one-day workshop where a prominent guest speaker is invited to give a lecture on Hinduism.

Students are required to pay $25 for the two twelve-week sessions while there is no charge for the one-day workshops conducted. The payment collected also covers all course materials and refreshments.

Students who are interested in enrolling in Project Bakthi classes are requested to contact the course coordinator, Ms Vidthiya Ramasamy at tel: 90628884 or e-mail: Vidthiya_Ramasamy@singaporeair.com.sg

MEDICAL COUNSELLING SERVICES

Free Medical Counselling Services were first introduced in 1986 at the Sri Mariamman Temple’s wedding hall. Prominent specialists in various fields of medicine would be on hand to offer medical advice to the general public. The service was initially offered every Sunday between 3.00 and 5.00 pm in the first few years it was introduced. In recent years however the service is offered through a Health Fair held annually. At the Health Fair, in addition to free health screening and medical counseling, there is annually a medical forum which focuses on causes, treatment and prevention of common life threatening diseases. In addition to free blood cholesterol and glucose screening tests, the health fair offers free examination of height, weight, and BMI measurements, body fat analysis, and blood pressure checks. To cater to the Tamil speaking population, Health Fairs are also conducted in Tamil

Medical Counselling Services also provides static medical coverage for large scale religious events like Fire Walking Ceremony and Thaipusam Festival.

Recently, in conjunction with World Heart Day and National Heart Week, a Health Fair in Tamil was conducted jointly with Singapore Heart Foundation. The focus of the fair which was held at the PGP wedding hall was “children, young adults and heart disease”.

Members of the public are advised to take advantage of the free medical services provided and register your name with the Hindu Endowments Board during the Health Fairs. Look out for our announcements on upcoming Health Fairs and please call us tel: 6296 3469 to register for the free health screening and forums.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES WITH THE HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD
The Hindu Endowments Board welcomes anyone who is interested in volunteering their services for the various events and festivals it conducts annually.

If you are interested in volunteering for any of the Board activities listed below kindly contact the Administrative Manager at telephone: 6296 3469.

Alternatively, if you wish to offer your services for any of the religious events or festivals conducted at any one of the Board administered temples, please contact the temples directly.


2006 Annual Events
Feb Thaipusam Festival
May/ June Vesak Day Celebrations (Organizer : Singapore Buddhist Lodge)
Oct Firewalking Festival
Nov Deepavali Street Light Up


We are also on the lookout for persons who may be able to assist us in the following areas. When you contact us, please indicate the area of participation you are interested in:

For National Events and Festivals:
1. Reception/ Ushering
2. Logistics
3. Traffic/ Security/ Marshalling
4. Food Distribution

For ‘Singapore Hindu’:
1. Contribution of Articles (On Hinduism, Hindu practices & customs, Community News, Book Reviews, Temple Happenings, etc)
2. Photography

(Contributions will have to be original works. Publication of materials submitted is at the discretion of the Editorial Team)

For Saraswathy & Saraswathy Darma Muneeswaran Kindergartens:
1. Story Telling
2. Reading
3. Guides for outings

(Volunteers for both Kindergartens will have to meet eligibility criteria)



Contact Information :-

www.ganesh.us