My Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng with Dr Yee Wai Seng

What to Expect

Did you know that the modern Bishan estate was built on a sprawling Cantonese cemetery? Join us on this tour and discover how Singapore’s Chinese population managed the transition from burial practices to cremation, and how architecture and rites morphed to fit this new reality.

About My Prayers and Practices

Every F1 season, we will see 10 religious leaders standing along the racing track to bless the road. We can typically identify the leaders of our own faith but there are religions in Singapore which are less-heard of, though they are celebrated by some of our local communities. As a multicultural melting pot, many religious communities have taken root and established their practices on our little red dot. From the Jains and Zoroastrians to the Jews and Orthodox Christians, we hope that participants can join us on a soul-nourishing journey to the places of worship of the major religions in Singapore and learn about their birth, coming-of-age, marriage and death prayers and practices.

We hope that through our tours, it will enable us to explore and negotiate our own sense of self and appreciate our religious diversity in Singapore. Through the various events, we hope participants have a deeper understanding of race, religion and social cohesion. We hope you will gain multiple perspectives and connect your own stories of multicultural and multireligious heritage with those of others. Through facilitated dialogues with the religious leaders, we hope to provide opportunities for participants to engage the hosts in candid and heartfelt conversations.

About the Organisation

The current Peck San Theng complex was built in the 1980s on land leased by the government, and rehouses the old Guanyin and Tua Pek Kong Temples of the old village, as well as a main administrative building that functioned similarly to the old village hall. The old Peck San Theng Cemetery was built in 1870 and supported the community of Kampong San Theng. In 1973, government directives to close the cemetery and stop burials were passed down. The graves were exhumed, cremated, and stored in the newly constructed columbarium, designed in a strikingly modernist fashion by architect Tay Kheng Soon, who also designed Golden Mile Complex. A heritage gallery which documents the experiences of the old kampong was inaugurated in 2018.

About the Host

Dr Yee Wai Seng, Peck San Theng's (PST) Vice Heritage Director, has a lifelong fascination with Chinese history. This passion, ignited in his youth, led him on a journey – from Pahang to Jilin and finally to National University of Singapore – all in pursuit of deeper knowledge. Today, he shares his expertise as a lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). But Yee’s dedication extends far beyond the classroom. For the past five years, he has tirelessly volunteered his time after work at PST. Here, he meticulously researches, sorts, and restores the museum's precious collection of artefacts. Dr Yee treats these historical treasures with the utmost care, akin to prized possessions. His dedication even extends to venturing into rubbish dumps, rescuing unwanted artefacts that hold the potential to enrich PST's collection.

Who should come?

• Participants must be 13 years or above.

Programme Details

• Approximate Duration: 2 hours (Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour for registration)
• Language: Mandarin (Main), English, Cantonese
• Meeting Point: Meet at Level 1 of the Admin Building. The admin building is the first building you see upon entering Peck San Theng (50 Bishan Ln, Singapore 579847).

• Ending Point: The event will start and end at the same point.

• The events will proceed rain or shine.

What to bring?

• Participants should be dressed respectfully in smart casual (i.e. collared shirt, long pants and covered shoes). Sleeveless attire, shorts/miniskirts or sandals are strictly not allowed. Participants will be denied entry if they dress inappropriately.
• Participants should bring along an umbrella, sunblock, insect repellent, and a bottle of water.

• Please ensure that you bring along any personal Medic*tion. Asthmatic individuals are reminded to bring their inhaler.

Other important information

• Parking is available at Peck San Theng (Free Parking).
• The venue is not wheelchair friendly.
• Photography is allowed at selected areas.

Disclaimer

• All ticket sales are final. There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
• Each ticket admits only one participant.
• By agreeing to participate in the tour, every participant will be responsible for any injury, loss of damage due to careIessness of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
• Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
• Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.

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