The Tamil and Bengali New Year falls on April 14, and it is a tradition to have specially made sweets to welcome the New Year.
The Inter-Agency Taskforce from the Singapore government has teamed up with the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) to distribute festive goodies to foreign workers, to provide some comfort during this difficult period.
A total of 123,000 traditional Indian sweets – including laddu, mysore pauk, paal gova, – were prepared by 24 Hindu Temples. These were distributed to foreign workers across 22 locations, regardless of race.
This is a first of its kind effort by the HEB, bringing temples together to produce traditional sweets on this scale, the Ministry of Manpower said in a press statement.
The Taskforce also provided the workers with fast food treats to celebrate the occasion, distributing over 90,000 meals from KFC, including vegetarian pizza, in addition to their daily meals.
Here are some snippets from the initiative:
Residents of Toh Guan Dormitory donning masks as they went about their daily tasks. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
A total of 123,000 traditional Indian sweets – including laddu, mysore pauk, paal gova, – were prepared by 24 Hindu Temples and distributed to the foreign workers in celebration of Tamil and Bengali New Year. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
The sweets were distributed to foreign workers across 22 locations, regardless of race. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Workers at Westlite Toh Guan collecting sweets during lunch. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Workers at Westlite Toh Guan queuing up for lunch. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Workers at Westlite Toh Guan queuing up for lunch. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
The initiative is a first of its kind effort by the HEB, bringing temples together to produce traditional sweets on this scale. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Workers dressed up for Bengali New Year. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
The workers also received fast food treats to celebrate the occasion. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
The workers also received fast food treats to celebrate the occasion. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
