Singapore PM Wears Turban During Gurudwara Inauguration, Lauds Sikh Community

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong praised the local Sikh community for assisting individuals of all races, religions, and backgrounds through different aid programmes during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Prime Minister Lee was dressed in a white Sikh turban and met community members at the inaugural ceremony of the Silat Road Sikh Temple, which was renovated and revamped during the pandemic. He greeted the community members by saying in Punjabi “Sat Sri Akal”.

Prime Minister Lee stated that places of worship, such as the Silat Road temple and other Gurdwaras, had to deal with disruptions brought by the pandemic. Gurdwaras, along with many other places of worship, have adapted to the various COVID-19 pandemic management measures such as providing live-streaming services to devotees who can still be part of a congregation.

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further said that these kinds of initiatives set a positive example for the rest of the community, as we move towards a new normal of living with an endemic virus. ‘’Silat Road Sikh Temple is not just a sacred place of worship, but a shining icon in the multi-religious and multi-racial landscape of Singapore. Congratulations once again to the Sikh community on this momentous occasion,’’ he added.

Volunteers at the Silat Road Sikh Temple used to provide up to 1,500 vegetarian meals each day as part of langar, a holy religious ritual of feeding tourists and worshippers at Sikh temples. The temple’s kitchen and food preparation and dining areas have grown in size by roughly 20% after restoration and refurbishing work that lasted nearly a year which was completed recently. This will allow volunteers to serve up to 2,000 meals each day in a safer and more pleasant atmosphere.