www.gitajayanti.org.sg
SINGAPORE, February 3, 2008 [HPI note: though this event happened months ago, HPI has just received this report on the activities of Singaporean Hindus.]
About 2,000 devotees — Singaporeans as well as Bengalis, Bhojpuris, Gujaratis, Kannadas, Malayalees, Marathis, Marwaris, Sindhis, Tamils and Telugus — gathered at the Sri Srinvas Perumal Temple to celebrate Gita Jayanti 2008.
Gita Jayanti, which propagates the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita, is this multicultural country’s largest single national event. For the past eleven years, it has drawn expatriate Hindus hailing from all over India to worship and pray together during large havanas.
Singapore’s celebration of Gita Jayanti began in 1997 as a simple one-day event, with about 100 devotees chanting the full Gita. It has evolved into a program of events with many activities, including oratory, chanting, quiz, essay competitions, parayan forum, cultural show, and of course, worship. The guest of honor this year, Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, was delighted to see the excellent diverse regional mix and the healthy participation between Singaporean and expat Indians.