{"id":65305,"date":"2026-07-01T18:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T10:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=65305"},"modified":"2026-07-01T18:10:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T10:10:01","slug":"singapores-oldest-hindu-temple-marks-200th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=65305","title":{"rendered":"Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple marks 200th anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

SINGAPORE \u2013 In 2027, Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore\u2019s oldest Hindu temple, will mark its 200th anniversary with a series of celebrations.<\/p>\n

The year-long SMT 200 initiative will commemorate two centuries of the temple\u2019s history, which dates back to its founding in 1827.<\/p>\n

It also \u201chonours the generations of devotees, volunteers and community leaders who shaped the Sri Mariamman Temple into a living institution that has accompanied Singapore\u2019s growth from a colonial port settlement into a modern multicultural nation\u201d, the temple said in a statement on July 1.<\/p>\n

The temple is located in the heart of Chinatown at 244 South Bridge Road.<\/p>\n

Originally a simple wood-and-attap structure, the temple was gazetted as a national monument on July 6, 1973. It served not only as a place of worship<\/span><\/a>, but also a centre of community support that welcomed early migrant communities and contributed to Singapore\u2019s shared identity, the temple said.<\/p>\n

A series of religious programmes \u201caimed at deepening spiritual engagement and encouraging broader participation across the community\u201d will take place throughout 2027.<\/p>\n

The celebrations will begin in January, during the four-day Tamil harvest festival of Pongal.<\/p>\n

Among the celebration\u2019s highlights are a silver chariot procession across various Hindu temples in Singapore and a multi-site exhibition showcasing photographs, artefacts and ceremonial treasures.<\/p>\n

The exhibition, which will run from February to December, will take place at public spaces such as the Indian Heritage Centre, as well as public and regional libraries. A static exhibition will also be held at the Sri Mariamman Temple from April to June.<\/p>\n

Tamil Murasu, Singapore\u2019s only Tamil-language daily newspaper and a partner of SMT 200, has opened its photo archives to provide historical material for the initiative.<\/p>\n

Both the travelling and static exhibitions will be open to the public and are free.<\/p>\n

A heritage publication authored by a team of academics and historians is also set to be launched in the last quarter of 2027.<\/p>\n

The bilingual publication \u2013 titled Amman\u2019s Home, People\u2019s Temple \u2013 will be available in both print and digital. It will explore the journey of early migrants, generations of devotees and the evolution of the temple alongside Singapore\u2019s development.<\/p>\n

As part of the lead-up to the celebrations, the Sri Mariamman Temple has unveiled a commemorative logo inspired by its historic grand entrance tower. It is also calling for contributions of temple-related memorabilia for a project to \u201chelp preserve the personal stories that have shaped Sri Mariamman Temple across generations\u201d.<\/p>\n

From July to September 2026, members of the community can loan or donate the following items to the temple:<\/p>\n

\n