New experiential festival brings racial and religious harmony to life for youth

SINGAPORE – Despite being Buddhist, undergraduates Evlin Woo and Chloe Chua did not know the origins of the familiar scents that form part of their religious heritage.

At a festival celebrating racial and religious harmony held at Singapore Management University on Sept 18, they got up close and personal with Bodhi leaves, mani pills and joss sticks made from sandalwood and agarwood.

These items were featured at experiential booths meant to help young people understand different cultures and beliefs.

The event was jointly developed by 80 young people from Youth Leaders @ Harmony Circle (YLHC) and 15 student cultural, faith-based and interfaith clubs across four institutes of higher learning (IHLs) and other youth groups.

The #commUNITY on Campus festival, led by YLHC and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, will be held every two years at a different IHL.

On Sept 18, more than 600 attendees became acquainted with the tastes and scents of different cultures.

Chua, who studies accountancy, said: “A lot of the scents were familiar, but I think we never heard of the origin.”

In addition to the different tastes and aromas from different cultures, attendees also got to touch objects such as prayer beads, sacred threads and cloths.

Woo and Chua said they also learnt about the different objects associated with the Judaic faith, such as tefillin – two black leather boxes with straps traditionally worn by men each weekday morning before prayer – and tallit, a fringed prayer shawl.

“(Representatives at the Judaism booth) also shared information about their culture and their beliefs and how they don’t use their phones or any devices on Saturday. It was nice to hear that this practice is part of their culture,” said Chua.

Software engineer Fathima Raeesah learnt that Taoism and Hinduism share common beliefs when it comes to incense. Both religions believe that rising incense smoke represents the ascension of prayer.

“I was able to see how the different religions have a lot of similarities between different aspects such as their flavours and scents. Learning about the differences is also a way to embrace the similarities they share,” said the 25-year-old.

Derek Tan, who co-led the organising committee of the festival, said the event brings different cultures and traditions together in a more relaxed and engaging way, which is useful as people may not always have the opportunity to have conversations across communities.

The other co-lead of the organising committee, Ismail Meera Begum, said the experiential booths let attendees understand first-hand the common ground between different cultures.

For example, talbina, a traditional food rooted in Islamic history and recommended by Prophet Muhammad, is similar to tea in the Sikh tradition in that they are both symbols of hospitality.

“This festival gives people insight into the meaning behind certain food and beverages. They may not realise there is actually a deeper meaning behind such traditional food,” said Meera.

She added that the festival is catered to youth because when they enter the workforce, they will encounter a world that is different from school.

“Racial and religious harmony is a very important aspect which we need to cultivate in young people so that when they face the world, they know what to expect and how to handle certain differences that may come about.”

Speaking at the festival, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan said Singapore cannot take racial and religious harmony for granted.

She said: “For the younger generation, you all have a very different perspective, probably, of what it means to be a multiracial, multi-religious society in Singapore.

“I’m very happy that you have taken interest in such an important theme... and... try to update this unique brand that we have in Singapore of being multiracial and multi-religious.”