A large group of Hindu devotees was seen gathering at a beach in Singapore to celebrate Shri Ganesh Chaturthi Mahotsav, raising questions about whether such gatherings are allowed in public spaces.
An eight-minute video shared live on Facebook by user Acharya Padmnabh Shastri on Sept 25 shows around 100 devotees decked in brightly coloured traditional attire, singing and chanting to the rhythm of four dhol — traditional double-sided barrel drums.
The celebration marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity associated with wisdom and new beginnings.
The location of the gathering was not mentioned, although one commenter suggested it took place at East Coast Park.
The video has racked up more than 28,000 views, nearly 190 reactions and 72 comments.
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Devotees sing and dance around statues before setting up altar
In the video, devotees gather around two statues of Lord Ganesha as they make their way towards the beach, accompanied by the beating of the drums.
A tarpaulin sheet is then laid on the ground as devotees scatter flowers and place trays of traditional sweets and fruit before the statues.
A subsequent video posted by the same Facebook user shows two small groups of devotees carrying the statues on their heads into the sea and submerging them.
However, it is unclear whether the statues were subsequently retrieved or left in the water.
The post indicated that the event was organised by Shree Shiv Dugar Mandir, a Hindu temple in Cuff Road that also houses the Singapore North Indian Hindu Association (SNIHA).
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