Most temples in Singapore are open throughout the Mahashivratri night, except some such as the Perumal and Waterloo Krishnan temples, which don't have Shiva idols. I have offered prayers at these unique and beautiful temples with a bus load of like-minded friends for the past several years on Mahashivratri.
This year Covid-19 put a stop to the chartered buses. My friend Uma and I were determined to make it this year as well. Armed with hand sanitizers, the two of us drove on a well planned 12 hour route starting at 6 pm and ending at 6 am the next morning.
With several temperature checks thrown in, we toured to some 21 temples (yes there are those many and a few more on this sunny island) overnight for Mahashivratri. Delighted to share some pictures from our religious overnighter.
1. Tua Pek Kong Temple: Loyang Sri Mahaganapathy Sanctum, Loyang
Starting from Pasir Ris at 6pm with Ganesha – the remover of obstacles – after a temperature check and filling up of details for contact tracing. Photo:Connected to India
Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple has Hindu deities (in the sanctum on the right) alongside Chinese deities (in the temple on the left) in our harmonious island, Singapore. Photo: Connected to India
Shiva as Ardhanarishwar at the Loyang Ganesha temple. Photo: Connected to India
2. Sri Ramar Temple, Changi
The Shivalinga in the sanctum at Sri Ramar temple in Changi. Photo:Connected to India
Devotees doing their own ''Abhisheka'' to the open-air Shivalinga within the premises of the Changi Ramar Temple. Photo: Connected to India
The Úlsava Moorthy' that is carried around the Changi Ramar Temple. Photo: Connected to India
3. Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneeswarar Temple, Sengkang
Abhisheka items for Lord Shiva. Photo:Connected to India
4. Sri Darma Muneeswaran Temple, Serangoon North
Photo: Connected to India
Photo: Connected to India
5. Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple, Serangoon
Photo: Connected to India
Volunteers generously served delicious 'prasad' to food and drinks, all night long at all the temples in Singapore. Photo: Connected to India
Milk packets offered by devotees await being offered to the deities. Photo: Connected to India
6. Sri Veeramma Kaliamman Temple, Serangoon
Photo: Connected to India
Only one entrance was made kept accessible, to streamline traffic, so volunteers like these could efficiently conduct temperature checks on all who entered the temple premises. Photo: Connected to India
Photo: Connected to India
7. Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Tank Road
The Tank Road Thandayuthapani temple is where 'Kavadi' bearers head to during Thaipoosam. Photo:Connected to India
Devotees sit and chant in unison as they watch the prayers being offered to Lord Shiva. Photo:Connected to India
8. Sri Mariamman Temple, Chinatown
At 11 pm the Chinatown Mariamman temple was relatively quiet, without any queue for temperature taking. Photo: Connected to India
Photo:Connected to India
9. Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Telok Ayer
The Layan Sithi Vinayagar temple reflected in the glass of the shophouse oppsite it on Keong Saik Road. Photo:Connected to India
The beautiful 'gopuram'of the Layan Siddhi Vinayaka Temple which had its 'kumbhabhishekam' or consecration recently after its renovation. Photo:Connected to India
10 Sri Ruthrakali Amman Temple, Depot Road
11. Sri Muneeswaran Temple, Commonwealth Drive
The 'paal abhishekam' Photo:Connected to India
12. Sri Arulmigu Murugan Temple, Jurong East
Temporary installation while the Sri Arulmigu Murugan temple undergoes renovation. Photo:Connected to India
Temporary installation while the Sri Arulmigu Murugan temple undergoes renovation. Photo:Connected to India
13. Hill Temple Murugan, Upper Bukit Timah
14. Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple, Sungei Kadut
Photo: Connected to India
15. Sri Siva Krishna Temple, Marsiling
16. Sree Maha Mariamman Temple, Yishun
17. Holy Tree Balasubramanian Temple, Yishun
18. Sri Veera Muthu Muneeswarar Temple, Yishun
The Veera Muthu temple like the Loyang temple has Chinese and Indian temples within the same complex. Photo:Connected to India
In an úlu' part of Yishun, a group was singing lovely 'bhajans' to karaoke music as the 1008 golden ''shivalings'' looked on. Photo: Connected to India
19. Sri Manmatha Karuneshwar Temple, Kallang
Photo: Connected to India
The Manmatha Karuneshwar temple also known as Gasworks temple was standing room only as devotees crowded in. Photo: Connected to India
20. Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple, Ceylon Road
Photo: Connected to India
Photo: Connected to India
Photo: Connected to India
21. Sri Sivan Temple, Geylang
Photo: Connected to India
The devotees at Geylang Sivan Temple, spread out into the ground in front of the temple as well, where talks, exhibitions, food and drinks were organised. Photo: Connected to India
Geylang Sivan Temple, our last pitstop before heading home at 5.45 am had long queus for temperature checks and a steady flow of thousands of devotees. Photo: Connected to India
With a well-planned route and smooth traffic, all of the about 25 temples on this island nation can be visited in about 12 hours.
