Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Reflections on Culture in Singapore

Pongal Celebration in Singapore
By: Abhimanyu Selvakumar

1)
Singapore is a highly diverse country, mixed with various people from various backgrounds which makes makes the country a melting pot of races. In this post we are going to share about our individual festivals that we celebrate here in singapore and how these celebrations bring singaporeans together.

In Singapore, Pongal is celebrated on the commencement of the auspicious month of Thai. On the first day, 'Bhogi Pongal', celebrations begin with worship of Lord Indra, the Ruler of Clouds and Giver of Rains. Thorough spring-cleaning as well as the discarding of old belongings is carried out to signify a fresh start.
Oil lamps are lit, new clothes are donned and colourful designs in rice flour are created on the floors of houses.
On the second day, 'Surya Pongal', the Sun God is honoured. Every household cooks a pot of rice with milk to offer up to Surya at dawn.
Pongal means to ‘overflow’, hence the pot of rice has to bubble over to symbolise prosperity and abundance. This is then served to members of the family as well as any visitors to the house. It is a very social period, as relatives and friends visit each other and exchange greetings.
The third day, called 'Mattu Pongal', is set aside to honour cattle–cows are sacred animals in the Hindu religion.To remember the work they do, like ploughing the fields and providing milk, the cattle are scrubbed and their horns painted. Multi-coloured beads, tinkling bells and flower garlands are placed around their necks and they are fed special snacks as a treat.
The last day, called 'Kannum Pongal', is all about the community and strengthening ties. Younger members seek the blessing of the older members of their families.Landlords distribute clothes, food and money to their workers. Offerings are made at temples even as special prayers are conducted.Infused with the earthy rhythms of agrarian life, Pongal offers visitors a peek into a rich culture and a way of life that has been celebrated in Southern India for centuries.

Event highlights
To remember the work they do, like ploughing the fields and providing milk, the cattle are scrubbed and their horns painted. Multi-coloured beads, tinkling bells and flower garlands are placed around their necks and they are fed special snacks as a treat.

Chinese New Year
By: Bryan Chia

2)
Chinese New Year is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is one of several Lunar New Years in Asia. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festivals on the 15th day of the first calendar month. The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between January 21st and February 20th. It is one of the world's most prominent and celebrated festivals, and involves the largest annual mass human migration in the world. It is a major holiday in Greater China and has strongly influenced the lunar new year celebrations of China's neighbouring cultures The New Year festival is centuries old and associated with several myths and customs. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honour deities as well as ancestors. In Singapore, the locals will come together to feast and catch up with each other, the unmarried singaporeans will get to collect ang baos from their relatives. Lunar New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner.It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of ‘’good fortune’’, "wealth",’’happiness’’, and "longevity".

3) Compare and contrast both celebrations

.The first contrast is that both cultures have different ways of expressing prosperity and wealth. The Hindu culture uses a pot of rice has to bubble and overflow the pot to symbolise prosperity and abundance. Whereas the Chinese culture uses red coloured paper cuts to symbolise  wealth. The second contrast in both the cultures is the difference in calendars. Hindus consider this    celebration as the start of their new year, where old things have to go and new things come into the house. Similarly, the Chinese also consider this day as the start as their new year and wear new clothes and buy new furniture  


4) Significance of each celebration

Pongal - The term ‘pongu’, meaning ‘to boil over’ or ‘flourish’ in Tamil, is what gives the festival its name. That’s why you’ll see the important tradition of filling a new clay pot with milk and fresh rice, then adding ginger, turmeric, brown sugar, cashew nuts, raisins and ghee as it cooks. When it is brought to a boil and froths over, family members cry out "pongollo pongal", which means "may this rice boil over" in Tamil, signifying a wish for overflowing fortunes.

Chinese new year (新年) - The term ‘ 新年 ’ meaning ‘new year’ in Chinese, symbolises a new beginning for the Chinese people. Some people will say ‘New Year, New you’. Chinese people believe that every lunar new year, they are renewed both mind and body like they are refreshed. That’s why you’ll see the important tradition of the tossing of the yu sheng. ‘Lo Hei’ in Cantonese, refers to the ritual adopted in Singapore of tossing of the yu sheng and saying of auspicious phrases before eating it. It is also believed that the higher the toss, the better your prospects and fortune in the year ahead.

Friday, 13 April 2018

Act of kindness

Through my Scouting experience, I have encountered many acts of kindness. The teachers in charge have moulded me the past 4 years, knowing my strengths and weaknesses. They have given me constructive criticisms which have polished me to become a more capable person. The teacher's selfless acts have resulted in the blooming of many young youths like myself. In return, all they get is the satisfaction when us students shine in our achievements. I can never do enough to repay these acts by the teachers accept to uphold their name through my contribution back to society in future.
Even my fellow Scouts have demonstrated many acts of kindness towards me. When it comes to teamwork, my friends have never delegated work and just waited for others to do their task. There was always sharing of the workload, never waiting to be told. No one ever just stood and watched another person do a task. They always come to each other's aid, doing anything they could do. I am impressed by my friend's nature to do their best without expecting anything in return. When things went wrong, no one ever pinpointed fault at another person. They always took any criticisms as a team, it was a do or die together attitude. I have gained so much from these acts of kindness. My teachers and friends have been my role models in altruism. I am still learning from observing my teachers and friends.

Thursday, 12 April 2018

Campfire Committee 2017

Southern cross campfire 2017 was amazing in every aspect, from the breath taking gateway to take awesome fireball, we really did set the mood for our fellow scouts and guides. We managed to pull of a brilliant show in which we said important messages that everyone appreciated. I was in charge of the Banner committee and was the Narrator for the Skit. These responsibilities and roles gave me a big responsibility. It gave me the drive to want to make the campfire a success. It was really an eye opening experience as I fully got to understand how much planning, effort and execution goes into a simple 3 hour performance. I really am thankful for the opportunity and would definitely encourage every member of my unit to try and be part of a rare experience of planning executing a campfire on home ground. In a nutshell, a campfire really does display the pride, achievements and skill of a scout unit. It is hence essential and extremely beneficial for every scout to experience this in their scouting journey.




SCRIPT FOR THE CAMPFIRE





St Gabriel’s secondary school
2006 southern cross scout unit
57th annual campfire {script}
INTRO
Abbas {super hot fire} [Bad guy]
Jayden{really cold ice} [Good guy]
Abhi(narrator)
Benjamin (wise old man) [OSAS]
EXTRAS
Jerald  (gako the frog)-4 tadpoles
Sze Anh Cannibal King (Sandflies)-4
Sze Anh Head habibi (Al-habibis)-4
(7pm) Abhi: Good evening scouts and sister guides ,Welcome to Southern cross’ 57TH Annual campfire “IGNIS” which means burning flame. (Must finish in 9 seconds)
*[Abbas and Jayden barge onto the stage]*(15 seconds fox on the run)
Both: Whoa whoa whoa!!
Abbas: bro ignis is the name of the..
(Abhi snaps his fingers to freeze them)-10 seconds Fox on the run
Abhi: haizzzzz not these kids again. In case you do not know these two Brothers are wanna be upcoming rappers from FidgetTown named SUPER HOT FIRE and REALLY COLD ICE,
they are on a extravagant trip to find IGNIS THE MIXTAPE that will make them famous…..but we all know they wont make it big time ….or will they?
(Abhi snaps his fingers to Unfreeze them]
Jayden: really dope mixtape we are trying to find!!
Abbas: WOWZAA! What just happened man its all so dark and cold ?!?!? (Benjamin comes onto the stage)
Jayden: IDK LOL maybe cause I’m here, but there’s and old creepy dude at the corner with a stick....I think he might be the grim reaper....LETS GO AND POKE HIM
(Jayden runs to the old man and starts fiddling with his stick, Abbas comes shortly after…scared)
Jayden: HEY OLD MAN ARE YOU DEAF?!?! YOUSTUPID OR SOMETHING????
Abbas: Lil Bro stop it!....
Abbas: I’m sorry ma’am….or sir?? What is your name?
Benjamin: I…am…your father… hah! Just joking I’m OSAS an MC from the past sent here to help noobs like you two find IGNIS{echo x3}
Jayden: well we know who you are now and what you are trying to do but its still dark and cold. can you help out by firing a magic fireball!?!
Benjamin: I cant do that but I do have  friends that can help us out with that [2nd  ADIJI YELL and Scouting light] and (1stunit cheers) TO LIGHT UP CAMPFIRE
(3rd lit campfire already and opening from GOH speech, campfire burning)
Abhi: Now that our rappers have found OSAS from the past they can finally set off to find IGNIS.
                             ACT 1:DAGOBAH
Abhi: their first stop….The swampy marshlands of Dagobah where our rappers  heard of a mystical frog that knows where the magical mixtape IGNIS is
Jayden: Old man, what are we doing in this swamp? And can we get out of it pleaseeeeeee(extend)
Benjamin: Don’t call me old man….and the reason why we are here is because I have an old mate that might know where IGNIS resides.
(walks till we find a rock which is a prop)
Benjamin: Alrighty ,we are here.
Abbas: wait what? We are here? Where is this frog and what’s his name?!?!
Benjamin:  He won’t come out just to lepak young one….we have to call him out ,Oh….AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CENAA(song starts 10 seconds) just kidding his name is Gako
Jayden: Well how do we call him out then?
Benjamin: Simple ,we have to sing a song called Gako the frog!
                  {STARTS SINGING GAKO THE FROG}
                           ( Gako and tadpoles come out)
Gako: who dares call upon the mighty and handsome Gako?
Benjamin: It is I old timer, I’ve come here with these two scrubs because we believe you might know where IGNIS might be
Gako: Well indeed I do mate! But in order to get that intel you will have to beat my 3 best tadpoles in a game of TADPOLE SLAYER!!!!{echo x 3}
( Abhi starts explaining how to play tadpole slayer and the instructions etc…..10 min)
(10 min later Abhi asks them to all go back)
Gako: Ahahah that was a good game friend ,but now lets get cracking. Now to find IGNIS you will have to take a (as many directions as possible) and then
you will reach Tatooine to find the cannibal king . That’s all I can help you with buddy now good luck
                                       ACT:2 Tatooine
Abhi: Now as our rappers set out to the desert islands of tatooine they find themselves surrounded by pesky sand flies
Jayden: AHHHH BRO WOT ARE THOSEE?!?!?
Benjamin : These my boiiiiiii are sand flies and the only way to stop them is by singing flea fly (Abbas copies ben)
Benjamin: Stop that  (Abbas copies ben)
Benjamin: Fine follow what I say
                            {Starts singing flea fly}
Abbas: Wow what a liar Osas[ Jayden and Abbas stare at ben]
Benjamin…. FINE! The only thing left is to battle the sandflies..
Jayden: With what?! Dance?!?!?
Benjamin: WOAH HOW DID YOU KNOW!!?!? (Abbas and jayden sigh)
            {DANCE BATTLE::Abhi asks for 1 rep from each school to dance battle for 15 min while the sandflies die}
(First song:1st goodlife-FF8 2nd Swalla-JD DUO 3rd rolex-A&T
4th Despacito-JB)
Abbas: Ah now that we are done with those “THINGS” we can finally find the cannibal king…..how do we do that by the way?
Benjamin: Easy we have to call him out by singing….CANNIBAL KING!
                  {STARTS SINGING CANNIBAL KING}
King: Ah who calls me? Is it you peasant? Are you here to find a mate? Well I must tell you I’m not into guys!
Jayden: NO NO NO it’s not that,we heard from our friend Gako that you might know where IGNIS is right now!
King: Well indeed I do small boy,but first you have to get rid of these pesky flies by blowing them away!!!!
      {asks whole crowd to help and blow away the sandflies}
King: Alright now that you have got rid of them I can tell you that I DO NOT KNOW WHERE IGNIS IS AHAHAHHAH
Abbas: WAIT WOT IN TARNATION {Walks up to King and WHACKS him}
King: owww alright ill tell ye where IGNIS IS!!!
    (Abbas stops beating him up and brings King up)
King: you would want to go to CORUSCANT where the tribe of Al-habibi’s have IGNIS and might teach you how to use it BUT!
You can only call them out at night . I hope you use it to look cool ya losers
                       {ACT:3 AND 4 CORUSCANT}
Jayden: WOOHOO! WE ARE FINALLY AT OUR FINAL DESTIATION OF IGNIS!!! HERE WE ARE!
                     {starts signing here we are}
Abbas: Hey ,Osas can I talk to you privately for a sec?
 {Abbas brings Benjamin to the side and whispers}
Abbas: Hey old man…I actually plan to have the power of IGNIS all to myself and get rid of that burden, I mean come on I’m way cooler and with IGNIS
ill finally use it to be cool and get all the girls! I mean just look at him, you think he can harness the power of IGNIS? (points at Jayden and he waves back like an idiot)
Benjamin: I see…..I knew this would happen because I was once in your shoes…except I was ICE…and my brother was you
Abbas: huh? Sorry I don’t understand stupidity I mean do you hear what you are saying?
Benjamin: No I am speaking the truth, I was sent to this timeline to try and advise you not to fall to the
path of IGNIS……If you dare betray your brother you will end up dead like my brother
Abbas: PSHHH WHATEVER OLD MAN, lets just go and find the Al-habibi’s
Abhi: And so as midnight approaches our rappers stared at the silvery moon and sang
                        {starts singing silvery moon}
                   {POSHHH THE HABIBIS APPEAR}
Habibi head: YO WHO THE PEOPLE THAT CALL US?holders of ignis! Is it you Lil dudes? Are you tryna be swag like us?
Jayden: well yes accutally…
Abbas: (barges in) YES IT IS I,THE WORTHY ONE AND I HAVE COME FORTH TO CLAIM IGNIS!
Habibis: Not so soon padawan, in order to be trained at such high levels of SWAG, one must show his dopeness by having…. A RAP BATTLE!!!!
Abbas: very well, I accept this battle……who would I battle?
Abhi: {Asks for one volenteer from the crowd if not then someone from our unit}
                         {starts rap battle!!!!!!!!}(10 min)
Abbas: Ha that was EZ, now am I ready to start my training?
Jayden: Woah bro what about me? Did you forget about me?
Abbas: You? You are nothing to me, you are useless! You are the definition of bad, I heard if you look into the dictionary and look up loser you will find RCI in there!
Jayden: wait whaaaaaa?!?!?......(RUNS OFF CRYING while Abbas and the Habibis go off stage to change clothes)
Benjamin: (Jayden still crying) hey ICE you alright? Listen I was once in your place, but don’t worry if they wont teach you then I will! Trust me you will beat
SHF and have IGNIS {starts to practise how to dance off stage }-(UNIT MASS DANCE)
              { finished changing and goes back on stage}
Abbas: wow look at those two, they cant even dance….hey lets say we take them on? As a group!!(all cheer)
Jayden: Oh no its them again! What do we do Osas?
Benjamin: chill, lets see what they do
Abbas+Habibis: (confronts them) hey chumps! How about a deal ,if you can keep up with our sick moves you can share IGNIS with us…. You think you follow?
Jayden: (in anger) Of course I can! Even without the power of ignis
Abbas: pshh alright ,LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED
            {Mass dance and song start playing}(5min)-Emcee dance
Benjamin: STOP THIS CHILDISH ACT RIGHT NOW! You guys are brothers fighting over such a small matter just for what? Power? Fame? Girls? Why can’t you two just share?!
Both: well I guess you’re right….the one thing we do share is a burning passion for dance and rap so I guess we can share IGNIS
Benjamin: well I’m glad you two came to your senses, it looks like my work here in this timeline is finished ill be heading back to my own now
Jayden: Wait Osas! If you go then who will guide us along!
Benjamin: Simple IGNIS will , just believe in the burning passion and all is well (Fades away)-Plays all izz well 10 sec
Abhi: We have come to the end of our adventure ladies and gentlemen I hope you enjoyed our play, as for RCI he managed to be the worlds greatest dancer and got a girlfriend
while SHF became the worlds greatest rapper but sadly is still single….hahah now the main moral of the story is to never betray your friends and family, always belive in your burning passion
and the memories forged along the way (Auld Lang Syne)…remember as great power comes great responsibility!
                        (GOH ENDING SPEECH)
          {ALL GATHER AND BOW,CAMPFIRE OVER}