PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION

9 King George’s Avenue 208581 Tel: (65) 63405430;63405432;62382032 Fax: (65) 63485977 Website: www.pa.gov.sg

21 June 2018

LAUNCH OF NARPANI PEARAVAI INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE CONTEST IN SUPPORT OF THE SINGAPORE BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION

The People’s Association (PA) Indian Activity Executive Committees Council (Narpani Pearavai) will be organising the Narpani Community Carnival on Sunday, 24 June 2018 from 10.00am to 5.00pm at Downtown East. Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and Transport, and Adviser to Narpani Pearavai, will be joining 4,000 residents from all walks of life, including low-income families and new immigrants at the carnival. Residents will have an opportunity to spend quality time with their families, neighbours and make new friends in this fun-filled carnival.

Narpani Indian Heritage and Culture Contest 2018

2 At the Indian Activity Executive Committees’ (IAECs) 40th anniversary celebrations dinner in January 2018, Deputy Prime Minister said that the Singapore Bicentennial was an opportunity for the IAECs and other Indian organisations to recall the history of Indians in Singapore and share their heritage and traditions with all Singaporeans. He encouraged the Indian community to join in this national effort to remember and learn from the past, and keep alive the heritage that gives us confidence as Singapore prepares for the future. In support of this direction and the Singapore Bicentennial, Narpani Pearavai, together with Tamil Murasu, will jointly organise an Indian and Heritage Culture contest starting from 24 June till 28 September 2018, to promote the Indian heritage and culture to the wider community.

Highlights of Narpani Community Carnival with community partners 3 With the support from the Indian Heritage Centre, Sinda and National Library Board (NLB), families and youths can experience a variety of programmes,

1 such as cultural activities and exhibitions on Indian rituals and festivals in Singapore, Indian calligraphy, Henna drawing and cultural games at the carnival. Some 500 needy residents, who are under the Sinda’s assistance scheme, will also be invited to the carnival for a day of fun-filled activities and bonding. “Such collaboration allows the partners to pool together resources and expertise to out to the less priviledged in the community for a day of fun and learning about the Indian heritage and culture,” said Mr K.Ramamoorthy, PBM, Chairman of Narpani Pearavai.

4 The Indian Heritage Centre will be sharing their cultural exhibitions on Indian rituals and some of the major Indian festivals observed in Singapore, including the Indian harvest festivals, Thaipusam, Holi, Onam and Deepavali. Sinda will be organising programmes such as story telling and handy craft activities in the Sinda Bus, and children centric activity booths. In addition, the NLB will be holding an off- site mass book borrowing activity through the mobile library services to the community to encourage reading.

5 Your journalist and photographer/ camera crew are cordially invited to attend the Narpani Community Carnival 2018, Sunday, 24 June 2018 at Downtown East, 1 Close, Singapore 519599. Please RSVP to the contact persons below by Friday, 22 June 2018 at 5.00pm. The programme and location map are attached at Annexes A and B respectively.

Contact persons : Sivashankar Chandra Head (Integration), Integration Division HP: 90255594 Email: [email protected]

Ms Sithara Doriasamy Vice-Chairperson Narpani Pearavai HP: 98516164 Email: [email protected]

Issued by : Corporate Communications Division People’s Association Tel: 63405430, 63405432, 62382032

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About People’s Association

The People’s Association (PA) is a statutory board established on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. We offer a wide range of community programmes and volunteering opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Our network includes more than 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs), over 100 Community Clubs, five Community Development Councils, National Community Leadership Institute and Water-Venture. More information at www.pa.gov.sg.

About Narpani Pearavai

Narpani Pearavai is the co-ordinating council of the Indian Activity Executive Committees (IAECs) which aims to guide the IAECs in engaging the community through a wide range of outreach programmes, assist the IAECs and other grassroots organizations to identify and recruit suitable Indian grassroots leaders and to facilitate collaboration between IAECs and other grassroots organizations and the larger community.

For more information on Narpani Pearavai, visit our website at www.narpani.sg .

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Annex A

PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION NARPANI COMMUNITY CARNIVAL 2018 DOWNTOWN EAST, 1 PASIR RIS CLOSE, SINGAPORE 519599

Time Programme

10.00am Commencement of Carnival, Stage Programme and Wild Wild Wet

10.40am Arrival of Media

11.00am Arrival of :Dr Janil Puthucheary Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport & Ministry of Communications and Information and Adviser to Narpani Pearavai

11.05am Photo Opportunites

Dr Janil Puthucheary tours the carnival booths, fringe activities and mingles with participants.

11.30am Photo Opportunites

Welcome Remarks by Dr Janil Puthucheary

Dr Janil Puthucheary launches the “Indian Heritage and Culture Contest” with Tamil Murasu

12.00pm Dr Janil Puthucheary takes his leave

5.00pm End of stage programme and carnival activities

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Annex B

PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION NARPANI COMMUNITY CARNIVAL 2018 DOWNTOWN EAST, 1 PASIR RIS CLOSE, SINGAPORE 519599

Location Map

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