Belly fella hanging with holy cow, an angel and some bollywood star.
Despite having visited India already in 2010 - though shortly and for work - I saw my first hindu temple in Singapore: Sri Veeramakaliamman temple is a colorful spot, buzzling with life, tiny bananas and chalk at the each of the four daily puja. Opening times are strange (5:15-12:15, 16-21:15) but if you come right before noon you will catch the puja as we did. It's a bit sad that no leaflets or explanations regarding what is going on are provided but well, I guess it is about the same amount of explanations available to someone who drops by a Catholic church to see people kneeling down in front of a golden grail.
Lonely Planet says "come at the time of puja" and so we tried...
It was raining, so I put my sandals in some bags available at the entrance - to prevent them from getting soaked after being outside for a while - but this proved to be a bad idea, when some angry man scolded me, as it was a huge offence to put my shoes into the bag used for offerings O_o
When we came in, there was something going on - did we really hit the puja? A lot of people would come around each of the little houses. Raise their arms, get some chalk on the forehead and drink some milk using their hands. Guess that's why cows are holy right?
Then, baby bananas were offered too. I did not understand this part very well, but it was like baby bananas all over the place.
Hindu, like Catholic temples, have a box for money. However the latter is typically a wooden box, but I guess hindu realized at some point that actually seeing the notes puts more pressure on people. So they went for glass instead. Indians are generally skilled for business, so I guess this works.
I so love the decorations, the guy with the belly, the moustache and the cobra. The lady who could be in Moulin Rouge or stealing with Lupin.
Deities all over, with people bringing bananas, candles or both to them.
Some are rockstars.
Other are not even human.
She was really mad at something or having her period. We'll never know.
The roof is decorated with a million figures, each of its own species. Half animal, green human and the guy with moustache-and-belly that seems a classic.
Fire for put your hands up in the air.
I guess he is granting wishes, but seriously... It reminds me of the look you give at the receipt, right before leaving the supermarket cashier, right?
When they kicked us out of this place, we dropped by the next temple in the guide. But Sri Srinivasa Perumal was nowhere as colorful or crowded or fun.
Main highlight were the roof decorations that blended sea life with humans, to create some funky deities. Look at Miss Turtle - what have you taken to come up with that?
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