It took years till I became accustomed to observing Palm Sunday on a Friday. That is because UAE’s Friday is tantamount to the most Asian countries’ normal Sunday, being the sort of church/ prayer day. It’s good that Good Friday & Easter Sunday kept their timings. It is crazy to think that Easter Sunday will fall on a Friday, Good Friday on a different day.

Given the challenge of managing the psychology of timings by keeping it real since it is the thought that counts, on the other hand, I like the simplicity of the Palm Sunday celebration and the relevant paraphernalias in the UAE. For the past years, we assembled it on our own. To the extent that it was actually just a single strand of leaf, no flowers, no ribbons, but rich in spirit. Until yesterday. However, for a moment, I don’t feel proud that I was amongst those who had the ‘more fancy’ leaves; but it makes me smile when I remember how the additional sold item cheered ‘Lola’ (elderly Filipina, in referrence to a grandma). 

It takes a while to find a balance between commercialism and keeping it simple, between standard timing and flexibility; of course, it should be fine to deviate once in a while.

PS. I hope that my attempt to do mobile blogging will improve my atendance in the blogosphere. We will see.

I lost count of all the important personalities (the most recent was Queen Elizabeth) and intent whirlwind visitors who made Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque a must-see and experience in their UAE trip. Hence, when I finally saw it in person I cannot believe that it took me four years (yay! I’m soon celebrating another Abu-versary) to experience the charm and validate on my own the record-breaking details of THE mosque.

Thanks to my aunt who visited us in the overlapping momentous months of September and October last year. She made me list down the stuff which might interest her which paved way for discovery and re-discovery of UAE gems.

(The grand mosque features 80 domes,  1,096 columns in exterior and 96 columns in the main prayer hall which are embedded with more than 20,000 handmade marble panels with semi-precious stones.)

The third largest mosque in the world. We visited the grand mosque in October of last year.  There were plenty of visitors that weekend, however, we didn’t feel the need to queue or be negated by the thought of influx. Well, the grand mosque is hugeeeeee! Imagine that its size (more than 20,000 square metres) is equal to five (5) football fields. To sum up the capacity in terms of total number of worshippers, it can accommodate 40,960 people. Let me clarify though that the sum is based on the capacity of the entire mosque. The nerd in me wanted to create a pie chart to better illustrate how many worshippers it can house in the different prayer halls and court yard.

(L) My aunt covered by the traditional UAE dress* (abaya); We were teasing her that she’s got a teen spirit look here even if she’s already a senior citizen. I think that the grandeur of the open prayer hall and the wind contributed to the look.  (R) Visitors are required to remove the footwear before entering the main hall.

*Dress and behaviour code. We were required to wear the sheila (headscarf) and abaya (black robe) to cover the hair and body, respectively. On certain occasions, I had chances to try the UAE traditional dress but I always deferred it under the assumption that there’s always a next time. I’m more content being the one photographing the wearers. Finally, I tried it for the first time. It was an interesting experience especially that at times I visualized that one’s on me when I’m with my UAE Nationals-colleagues.

Putting the sheila on my top and denim was easy but I didn’t realize that covering the hair was tricky. Mine slipped several times and I had to do it over and again because the guards are keen on picking the violators, e.g. ladies with ‘hair sightings’ and not to mention the unacceptable behaviors like holding hands, eating, drinking. Anyway, I seemed pleased to a certain extent when I saw myself with the abaya on because it hid my bulges heehee. On the other hand, men are not required to wear the khoundura (white robe) unless they came in shorts and without sleeves. The kids may enter the mosque as they are but in some cases, little girls might be required to wear the sheila to cover the hair. All these elements — unused and neatly folded will be provided as you approach the open prayer hall but you must return it afterwards.

As a sign of respect, the footwear must be removed before entering the main prayer hall. It is the same protocol we followed when we visited the Sri Marriaman (Hindu) temple in Singapore.

The mosque’s name.  Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was named after the father/founder and first president of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (“bin Sultan” means “son of Sultan”). He was buried in the mausoleum (a private building inside the mosque compound) which cannot be photographed.  Amongst the many good things he did, it was his idea that the mosque be opened to all nationalities and religions in order to educate people about Islam and its art and history, and the Muslim culture.

(The exterior walls are said to be of traditional Turkish design. The nature-inspired design throughout the mosque reflects late Sheikh Zayed’s love for the environment. Personally, I appreciated the overall cheerful yet solemn effect of  the combination of materials. Of course, the precious-looking chandelier in the main prayer hall entrance is impossible to miss.)

A decade of conceptualization. After ensuring that we were decent enough to enter the main prayer hall, we requested a wheelchair for my aunt to make it more convenient for her. I must warn you that the feeling of being regaled is comparable to a “Pringle moment” (once you popped, you can’t stop), we hardly stopped being wooooowed by every detail; no wonder that it took a decade (started in late 1980s) to conceptualize its architectural design. The construction phase itself and the end result are regarded as an effort to unify the best concepts globally. It has been reported that the artisans and materials came from Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE. The mosque was inaugurated in Ramadan of 2007.

The crystals and other record-breaking blings. We thought that the bluish and whitish chandelier we saw earlier was more than a breath-taker but the seven (7) gold-coloured chandeliers inside the main prayer hall were more stunning. As reported, those were imported from Germany, have thousands of Swarovski crystals from Austria and some glass work from Italy. Reported cost? US$8.2 million.

World’s largest chandelier. In above photo you can see that under the main dome, the 10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height and over 9 tonnes in weight chandelier hangs. That’s a mammoth weight! I hope that the mosque is ultra-earthquake proof. Rumor has it that its “sparkle ability” is powered by 40 million pieces of Swarovski crystals.

While I’m not a big fan of crystals, golds and jewelries (except for watches), my eyes sparkled in appreciation. Heehee. Do you also wonder how they do the maintenance of this? Based on unofficial local conversations, there is a built-in staircase within the chandelier itself for maintenance purposes!

The Qibla wall. Being a non-Muslim, I was most curious about the counterpart of the altar and pulpit of the priest’s (Imam in Islam) stand. I absolutely liked the idea that while its components cost a fortune, it was made to look unassuming and simple so as not to distract worshippers from prayers. The niche in the middle is called “Mehrab” which is made of gold-class mosaic. Please take note of the embossed portions as they provide details of the 99 names (qualities) of Allah in traditional Kufi calligraphy. Just a polite note to the visitors not to touch the Holy Quran (Holy Book) and other architectural elements in the main prayer hall.

(Closer look at the Qibla wall. It faces the direction of the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia — wherein the first two largest mosques can be found.)

The prayer clock (Adhan). This clock is interesting because it shows the schedule of call to prayer as of a certain day. Muslims are prescribed to pray five (5) times a day.

The world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. My aunt did not fully utilize the wheelchair inside the main prayer hall as the carpet is more inviting. Before researching on this subject, it was best to assume that the best carpets are Iranian produced. It didn’t surprise me that an Iranian artist designed the carpet.  The best part of the  trivia is that the carpet was handcrafted by 1,200 artisans in small villages near Mashhadin, a region in Iran popular for its carpet making expertise. To add,  they were flown to Abu Dhabi to stitch the carpet pieces together for the final fitting. Consisting of 2,268,000 knots, the mosque’s carpet is estimated at US$8.2 million.

The inflaid floral designs reminded me of the movie Tangled. There are 96 columns in the main prayer hall which are round in shape. Aside from the floral designs, the Italian white marble adorn the prayer halls. Take note of the ceiling also.

The ceiling at a closer look.

There are reflective pools as well, however I missed a snapshot (that’s why I’m looking forward to my next visit, probably to coincide it with sunset and stay until night). I have seen photos online that the pool itself captures the spectacular image of the mosque.

Taking photos and videos, sketching/drawing inside the mosque. Whether you’re a photo enthusiast or not, you will absolutely enjoy capturing the grand mosque because it is really beautiful, each corner can probably tell a story, capture an indescribable moment and for other reasons. Photo and video taking are allowed for personal consumption. However, I would like to reiterate that the mausoleum is off-limits as a sign of respect to late Sheikh Zayed as his remains are there. For professional film makers and media establishments, prior permission can be requested by contacting tour@szgmc.ae.  On the other hand, feel free to draw or sketch inside the mosque but avoid using chalks and charcoals.

While I wrote about the don’ts of taking photos in the UAE, I would like to remind everyone, especially the tourists, not to take photos of the UAE Nationals without permission whether you’re inside or outside the grand mosque. In case you would like to take photos of the worshippers praying at the time of your visit, I suggest that you first consult the security officers inside the mosque to avoid complications.

Good news! Entry is free of charge.

Another good news: there are free guided tours in Arabic and English. Click here for the schedule.

I realized that I need to learn from the errors of my ways of deferring my visits and/or chances of trying different things which I should have done a long time, especially if it’s for free.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Daily, except on Friday mornings, first day of Eid-Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha
Website: http://szgmc.ae/en/
How to Get There

[Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque photoset]

It’s (the year of) 2011 as most of us generally refer to it, but it would add value to someone like me who lives in the Gulf to know that 2011 is otherwise known as 1432 years or Year 1432.

I can’t believe the irregularity of my recent postings and that I needed to have a guest blogger last week. Thanks to my kyoooot kittycat! I hope that I would be able to write more frequently as I excitedly recall my pending tasks in terms of blogging.  But as we say, the  spirit is willing, but Witsandnuts is hungry for sleep…eeek, the flesh is weak! Did you know that there was that rare moment that I was blogging in my dreams, in fast paced scenarios, along with my other dreams that I am tied up with plenty of tasks? Being haunted in our dreams, scary isn’t it? But don’t worry, that rarely happens. There were days that I woke up feeling like I didn’t sleep at all because I’m so exhausted in the dreamland. On a happy note, there were days that I felt so rested even if I got only 3 to 4 hours of sleep. Sounds familiar, eh?

What’s keeping me (more) busy?

The need to push more to learn Arabic

I mentioned over a year ago that I was enrolled (sponsored) to the Arabic business course – first level. But due to the alignment of priorities and schedule itself, I decided not to take the advanced level. And maybe because of the anyway-I’m surviving-and-the-people-around-me-speak-good-English-and-documents-can-be-translated attitude.  Although inside my head, I always plan to devour my self-study materials. But that does not happen. It’s like that treadmill inside your apartment shouting “Hey! Am I just a decor here?” and you always defer its utilization… until it’s full of dust.

And one day I woke up telling myself, “I need to be two steps ahead”. So I’m now trying to catch up with the lost time. Although being eloquent in Arabic is not a must in my current function at work, I opine that I must prepare and do something more than the required for the sort of global competitiveness (naks!). But first, I had to be convinced that I am doing this for my self-satisfaction more than anything else. Though if I can be totally honest, when I’m ultra struggling and I want to give up, I tell myself “matulog na nga lang ako” (I better invest on sleep). Heeehee. And you know what? That’s the signal that we should keep going!

Learning Arabic is really challenging. Especially if it’s the business Arabic that you’re aiming for. The spoken one is easier to appreciate and has several channels, but I guess I’m pushing myself to the limits that my main goal is to become articulate in reading business documents in Arabic. That means that I’m boldly thinking to have the competency level of the professional translators (I even bought a business Arabic dictionary). Yaiks, as I am writing this I realized that masyadong mataas ang pangarap ko (I’m boastful that I’m aiming too high)! That’s 10 times harder. Although there are translators/resources, it feels good to be self-sufficient to a certain extent.

Speaking of Ramadan, here’s the Arabic scribble shown on the first photo. I set the edit in Instagram (yes, I’m currently hooked to this app as you probably noticed in my recent posts) in black and white to emphasize the emboss. The scribble reads as “Ramadan Kareem” or Happy Ramadan.

And what about this one? That’s my full name. I can write a little now. Looks artistic eh? To those who are going to attempt to decipher, take note that reading is from right to left.

But I must remember that I need to enhance my reading more than the writing skills (naks, skills daw)! Speaking of reading, I was struggling to read a document earlier where it took me ages to understand the correlation of August 3, 2011 with the insert 1432 (all written in Arabic). In the end, I finally gathered that 1432 refers to the number of Islamic year (from the date Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Madinat and established Islam).

Foster parents for Winello

Since we will be traveling, we started interviewing lovely people who are applying to be the foster parents of our kittycat, Winello. We didn’t expect that the response would be overwhelming with the help of Feline Friends of Abu Dhabi.

It’s good that our curtains are strong and not that sensitive, he’s now a little explorer.

If you wish to see more photos/ know more of the (my self-proclaimed) most charming cat in Abu Dhabi, please do visit his kittyblog titled Winello the Cat.

Screening foster parents is challenging and fun. Since they are all deserving, the decision making can get really tough. I wish we can say yes to everyone! Although there’s the occasional (normal) hesitation that the kittycat or the foster parent might get too attached to the other and it would be heartbreaking to kiss goodbye when we return and the other possibilities. At the end of the day, the process feels like we are taking the diligence and skepticism which parents have for a child when selecting a guardian/ meeting a possible partner in life. Only if it’s possible and feasible to take him to all the planned travels.

Paper work, paper work, paper work

No matter how exciting it is to travel, the planning may require paper work more than what’s expected. It just so happened that our passports were due for renewal (and luckily we allotted ample time for possible delay) and not to mention the other formalities. We are also sponsoring the visit of my aunt (finally we were able to convince her) and the added documentation from Immigration Office of the Philippines makes you say ‘what for?’.

(The slipper is one of the prizes I won from Photo Cache’s blog anniversary giveway.)

Celebrations!

On a happy note, the momentous celebrations with family and friends are the reasons that need no reservation to get really, really busy — cooking, eating, laughing and more! That’s the part that never fails to make me realize that life is wonderful.

It’s the holy week but it’s business as usual in Abu Dhabi. UAE is a Muslim country, hence, from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday we all report to office and children go to school. It’s a good thing that Good Friday has secured its place because Friday and Saturday comprise the weekend. Some organizations provide a special leave category wherein non-Muslims can use one day for other occasions or observances (e.g. during Holy Week, Christmas) which are not declared as legal holiday here. I’m at the point where I’ve long accepted it as well as the rarity of holiday economics.  If it’s any consolation and sougraping combined, we get to savour the Eid and other Islam-related holidays, anyway.

Although I’ve mentioned this in the past, I just want to stress it out that I’m really glad that the UAE government allows us to exercise our faith to a more generous extent compared to other countries in the Gulf. I think that it would really be psychologically painful to be away from home during this time of the year and if at the same time your faith is imprisoned. Here in Abu Dhabi, the observances of Palm Sunday, station of the cross, procession of the holy sacrament (confined to the church’s compound though), Easter Sunday, celebration of holy mass in different languages (incidentally tried the mass in French and Arabic) are very much alive in Saint Joseph Church. Minus the senakulo, penitencia, remarkable procession of saints, salubong, and more. If I were in the Philippines, I would be looking forward to experience these again this summer. For now, I am glued to my procession photos last year that I took in Laguna.

It’s one of the perfect times to reflect, too. And I found myself coming back to some of my favorite meaningful posts:

• Silence and its eloquence (April 2009)
• Make use of what happens, all of it (August 2009)
• Go with the experience (January 2010)
• Why do we fast? (February 2010)

I am most of the time jealous of the long weekends in the Philippines. (Although we are not sure about the government’s plan on sustaining the holiday economics.) So I feel privileged whenever we have our once in a crescent moon extra mile break. Yes, not once in a blue moon since our long breaks in the UAE are normally triggered by Islamic celebrations. The intent to travel outside the Gulf did not occur to me, I even begged off to close friends not to go with them in this wonderful getaway to a beach in Ras Al Khaimah, another UAE emirate neighboring Dubai.

I realized that I missed being home so much. That I was too hungry for sleep. That I missed being lazy. Five days of not getting up at 5:00 AM, unmindful of the alarm clock, no dolling up but being in pyjamas and worn out tees (t-shirt na pambahay na butas butas na haha; I guess I am a sentimental fool I love wearing old, old, old pambahay), and less complicated routines (eat-sleep-wake-up-TV-so on). The truth is we tend to enjoy a phase more when it is hard to catch. But when the monotony kicks in, we, of course, miss being a busybee. However, there were a couple of times that I went out just for the necessity of it.

Personally, I think that going out during the three-day Eid is challenging but a must. It is the time of the year when people are extra cheerful, the air is very festive. It feels like Christmas. Hence, the season’s decors in the different malls are also a sight.

(In a way, the gimmicks created an air of east meets west. At the end of the day, every resident and tourist got their own dose of entertainment.)

I feel triumphant, too, whenever there are too many good stuff to buy and temptations alike and I take home nothing but just the real “I must buy”. How cool is that? Sign of aging? Haha.

(A perfect time to revisit our old favourite. Crepe with dark chocolate syrup from Galler.)

I also took the five-day break to test if I can survive without pork meat. [No, I am not converting to Islam. But my Ate na tagagupit ng buhok (hair stylist) did. It was so surprising when she came to my house with her hair covered by a hijab to do home service (i.e. cut my hair by at least two inches; I hardly believed it grew too fast or I have just been too busy to notice it.)] I just realized one day that I do not enjoy consuming pork anymore. I started imagining things; I guess I am finally becoming health conscious. Signs of aging? (Again!) I wonder if I will ever wake up one day not liking chocolates anymore.

(Despicable Me‘s plot was usual and predictable but it is more than enough to make you giggle. We also watched Step Up 3. It is a must-see! Found myself clapping inside the cinema, together with the audience, after the final dance battle. I want to re-watch it. Incidentally, Step Up 1 and 2 are aired via MBC Max.)

We were back to normal this morning and just like the others, I oddly miss Ramadan because of:
(a) The flexible working hours. We were allowed to come to the office at 10:00 AM and just to complete six *efficient* (this one is my self-imposed rule heehee) hours.
(b) The quiet road before 8:00 AM. As most of the people are moving close to 9:00 AM.
(c) The air of extra kindness from everyone, being an Islamic Holy month. Although there are murmurs (ehem) that a few were impatient due to lack of sleep and hunger (fasting and more frequent prayers considered). But I did not a have a personal encounter to confirm that. That is understandable, anyway.
(d) My packed lunch. Unlike the previous Ramadan where I had to discreetly chew chocolates in the washroom just to fuel myself up, the canteen was opened for the non-Muslims. But we had to bring our own consumables. (Normally, we have a free international cuisine buffet lunch everyday. That resumed today.) For almost a month, I have always looked forward to preparing packed lunch.
(e) The stillness and serenity of Abu Dhabi.

Just when I thought that I have been too still, my drive to do more was actually sustained. Lazy-ing around is bliss and worth it. If done at the right time.

It is interesting how architecture can change one’s mood in an instant. After our visit to the striking Sri Mariamman Temple, the sight of the Tang dynasty inspired structure from afar was magnetic enough that it is impossible to miss. Without any backgrounder, we went through the main entrance of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which we found out (too late) is also a museum.

(Steps away from the colorful Hindu Temple is the glorious Buddhist Temple. Just as that Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related religions that are in some ways parallel and in other ways divergent in theory and practice.)

Our visit turned out to be intimidating at first because a mass/service was ongoing. We thought that we cannot go in until we saw non-Buddhists and the (obvious) tourists who were welcomed. Black robes were even available at the entrance, which I assumed are only for the devotees.

Though I am a Catholic, I found the experience very moving. Just by being so still. I guess it was due to a mixture of fascination with the architecture and the solemnity of the service. Although I noticed that the devotees hardly did mind the shuttering, the temple being one of the main tourist attractions in Chinatown, I let my photo itch be subservient for at least 30 minutes as respect to everyone inside until the service finished.

(Hundred Dragons Hall and Universal Wisdom Hall)

Before the monk gave the final blessings (just like in the Catholic mass), they had a “peace be with you” counterpart-moment. That I found to be a very heartwarming and joyful scenario. Peacefully contagious.

(Slideshow of the two main halls in the first storey of the temple)

Hundred Dragons Hall (Maitreya Hall)

The mass/service is being held in the Hundred Dragons Hall. While the temple itself is already fascinating from a distance, the more you engage yourself with any corner, the ceiling, ornaments, and the like will take you to see it in its actual glorious form. As I tried to recall the other Chinese temples that I have visited, I realized that they are remarkable in their own ways mainly in terms of the aged facade and representation of culture. On the other hand, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is on its blissful phase having been launched in 2007 and is interlinked with other elements encompassing friendship and a lot of teamwork as you will trace its origin.

(As you get closer to the main altar, the more you will be impressed by the details. Take note of the dragon prints/embroidery behind.)

(Crowd photography is challenging and satisfying. But that minute I thought it would be better to go “against the traffic” and went near the “less travelled” until they are done.)

(There are too many of them, they appeal like protectors or the holy guards.)

On the temple’s name. Just the same with my shallow orientation of Hinduism when we visited Sri Mariamman Temple, I validated my average understanding of Buddhism (e.g. incense, Tang dynasty) when I pondered on the temple’s name. It was liberating to learn about the sacred relic of Buddha starting from the Sri Lankan legends on how it was found out, to the belief that whoever possessed the Sacred Tooth Relic had a divine right to rule the land, and more. Is there only one tooth relic? I wondered. It turned out that there are at least four existing relics (in China, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore) claimed as the sacred tooth of Buddha.

(Each of them, with the fruits normally present, is a sight to behold.)

Controversy. Before the temple’s soft launch in 2007, it was reported that dental specialists had said that they believed the tooth, said to have been found in Myanmar and given to the temple, belonged to a herbivorous animal. Also, that there was also no widely accepted provenance of a genuine tooth relic ever having emerged from Myanmar. Venerable Shi Fazhao, who conceptualized the temple, quoted in the media as saying: “To me, it has always been real and I have never questioned its authenticity. They can say all they want, I don’t care what they say. If you believe it’s real, then it’s real.”

(The symbolic wall and the door leading through the other hall.)

Why is it called the Hundred Dragon Halls? As you will notice in its glaring solemnity, the elegant walls shrine a hundred of Buddhas.

(In a glance, I thought that Buddhas on both walls are all alike.)

(They are amazingly multi-faced. Toying with the idea of taking photo of each kind? That will be very challenging.)

Universal Wisdom Hall (Avalokitesvara Hall)

Behind the main hall is the Avalokitesvara Hall. Sitting on a lotus throne is an intricate image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (believed to perceive the world’s lamentations).

Just like the Hindu deity Ganesha who has many arms, this Buddhist saint’s six arms represent the following: with his first right hand supporting the head, pondering over the suffering of mankind, while the second right hand holding a pearl symbolises the power to fulfill any sentient wish, the third right hand holding a string of prayer beads symbolises the promise to end all sentient sufferings; on the left, the first hand is pressing the ground to signify granting the wishes of mankind with a firm heart, while the second hand holding a lotus flower symbolises the purification of human deeds. Lastly, the third hand is holding a Dharma wheel, which symbolises the spreading of Dharma.

(Samanthabadra, protector of those born in the year of dragon and snake.)

Along the sides are the zodiac protectors, surrounded by smaller statues of Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara. We noticed devotees who offered prayers on different corners wherein their concerned protector is located.

(Another charming piece of architecture, door leading to the lively Chinatown Complex.)

Just as we were almost late for our next activity for that day, we exited although our feet did not want to leave (you know that feeling eh?). Although we were already enriched with much fascination, only then we realized that there must be more to see in the other floors.

As I am checking the temple’s website, it turned out that there is indeed MUCH to appreciate. The mezzanine houses the ancestral memorial hall and museum, the second floor has the Lotus Heart Teahouse (sigh) and exhibition hall (calligraphy, paintings and other sculptures), there is the sacred Buddha relics chamber and collection of artifacts in the third floor, and of course the sacred Buddha tooth is in the fourth floor (I regret missing it! Please note that only the Sangha will have access to the inner chamber to conduct the various daily services. The public though may observe the daily services from the public viewing area. The chamber’s curtain is raised twice a day for all in the public area to view the inner chamber and the Sangha.), and on the roof is the prayer wheel. In addition, they provide free vegetarian food to locals and tourists who visit the temple on a daily basis. It clearly means that we must revisit.

(The temple as viewed from the carpark.)

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is in South Bridge Road, Chinatown (Singapore). Email at services@btrts.org.sg. Operating Hours : 7.00am to 7.00pm (Monday to Sunday). Admission is free.

Since we went to Singapore’s Chinatown just for the sake of dropping by (the two-hour turned into five-hour visit), it was best to rely on the random and consistent recommendations from the locals. Strolling through the end of Pagoda Street, they said that a Hindu temple and its neighbor Chinese temple which are a must-visit can be found. We realized that both are too obvious to miss.

How can you miss the striking entrance tower of Sri Mariamman Temple?

It was our first visit to a Hindu temple. Being a Catholic, it was challenging and interesting. Although there is freedom in practice of faith in the UAE, there are not too many Hindu temples around (none in Abu Dhabi). I was stunned by the entrance tower that I hardly took my eyes and hands from shuttering even before I removed my footwear as we neared the entrance.

(Slideshow of the anatomy of the Entrance Tower: Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore)

I must admit that it took time for me to publish this post not only due to lack of blogging time lately, but because it was uneasy to complete. One of the nicest things about blogging is that as we write for our own satisfaction (and/or other reasons), it follows that we learn in so many ways at the same time. Just like writing about Sri Mariamman Temple which is not my comfort zone, the entire experience from choosing among the plenty of photos that I took, to captioning them, and gracing them with valid information including the jargons from my humble orientation was satisfying.

(Left photo source)

The entrance tower used to be three-tiered. You will notice that it was not that sloping in its yesteryears. In the current six-tiered tower, each scale and the sculpture got smaller as it leveled. Thus, it emphasized the height. Although there were some improvements made on the doors, the (not so wide) size remains. Stories say that it was by intention in order to induce humility in the visitor and emphasize the diminutive human scale in relation to the divine.

There is no entrance free but you will be required to pay SGD 3 if you will use a camera and/or video recorder. Coincidentally, during our first few MRT rides, we got a coupon redeemable as a camera/video recorder fee. I noticed that such fee discouraged a few tourists that they just opted to take photos of the tower. Being almost clueless of what I was going to appreciate inside, I pushed on my patronage for a certain fee and considered it as donation for the temple’s maintenance.

As we got in, I felt flashbacks from our Asian Civilization class many years ago. As of the time of our visit, I hardly remembered any deity except for the Hindu’s Lord Krishna. And judging from the temple’s name, the goddess in the main shrine must be Mariamman.

Just like in Catholic churches wherein there are images of patron saints, this temple is a rich resource of images of Hindu deities. Although I am not familiar with all, their being notably colorful and symbolic prompted me to keep on snapping shots (video recording on the side). And just when I started drafting this entry, only then I tried identifying them with googling and referencing combined. Aside from Lord Krishna, there was a replica of Murugan, Durga, Ganesh, Muthularajah, Aravan, Draupadi, and more.

(Slideshow of the Hindu deities in and around the main prayer hall)

At the main altar is the image of Mariamman, the South Indian Hindu goddess of disease and rain. Just as when we thought we have seen more than enough inside the prayer hall, there are free-standing shrines as we went off to the right.

(The replica of cows which are one of the symbols of Hinduism are on the roof.)

In the preceding post, there was one comment/question about the symbolism of cows. If I shall respond based on my shallow memory of Mahabharata, an epic which was discussed in one or two of our history subjects under Philippine curriculum, it was mentioned that cows represent sacrifice. Then I must relate to the awakening shared by an Indian colleague who randomly joined us for lunch in a Filipino restaurant when I was two-month old in the UAE. We were about to order tapsilog (beef tapa, siningag, at ilog) when he almost vomited with the thought of eating it. We did not know that he is Hindu. We had chicken adobo instead. He explained that as a Hindu, they do not necessarily pray to the cows. But these are considered sacred because their Lord Krishna was a cowherd. This explains why there are at least 26 breeds of cows in India.

Still barefoot, we roamed in the (then realized) big compound. If you are visiting, never leave until you have at least circled the ground. It helped that the raindrops had just concluded, it made the walking literally cool (surprisingly not slippery) and reminiscent of walking so childlike.

(Ganesha, also known as Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is widely revered by Hindus as Remover of Obstacles and he also places obstacles in the path of those who need to be checked.)

Another interesting deity is Ganesha. I guess most of the non-Hindus are curious about why he has been represented with the head of an elephant. Much has been written that he was born with it, while other stories tell that he acquired it later for varying reasons/versions of the story. Every element in his body also represents its own significance (e.g. the elephant head indicates fidelity, intelligence and discriminative power, wide ears for listening, pot belly contains infinite universes, four arms represent the four inner attributes of the subtle body, that is: mind, intellect, ego, and conditioned conscience, and other symbolisms.

(You will notice the elephant figure within the side gate. This is open to Pagoda and Temple Streets and is mainly used as service entrance.)

(The lights used inside the temple are structured like lotus flowers. More than its being colorful, it is interesting to note that Hindus consider it very sacred. They believe that within each human inhabiting the earth is the spirit of the sacred lotus. It represents eternity, purity and divinity and is widely used as a symbol of life.)

(While rooster has a different symbolism for Saint Peter of the Catholic Church, in Hinduism, Murugan‘s flag of army depicts a rooster.)

(Just as there are thousands of deities/gods and goddesses in Hinduism, most of them are depicted ala-Sistine Chapel in the main prayer hall. I must admit that I was one of those who took photos on bended knees, just like the woman in this photo, to capture the impressive painting on the ceiling.)

(Slideshow of the painting of several deities on the ceiling)

The painting on the ceiling was impressive. My arms hurt from photo taking, but it was worth it. I guess the bewildered feeling of educational trip-like fueled my enthusiasm and appreciation. I think that our openmindedness to learn (and not necessarily embrace) new things is inseparable.

(A candid shot is priceless, but occasionally it is best to ask for permission.)

A visit to Sri Mariamman Temple led me to an important realization that although Hinduism is associated with multiplicity of Gods (in a way, maybe that’s how some non-Catholics view ours and other churches’ faith), that is not tantamount to advocating the worship of only one deity or a couple of deities/gods/goddesses. They are only meant to represent the many aspects of the supreme Absolute known to Hindus as Brahman.

The Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest (founded in 1827) Hindu temple in Singapore which is managed by Hindu Endowments Board. Located in South Bridge Road, downtown Chinatown, the unique annual fire-walking ceremony (the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stones as a test or proof of faith) is held a week before Deepavali (Festival of Lights).

I am thankful that my weeklong stay in the Philippines coincided with the Holy Week. Our country is among those noted in its observance. In particular, Pampanga, Bantayan Island, Marikina and (some towns) in Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan are known for the procession. The day after my cousin’s wedding was Palm Sunday. And since then, I looked forward to the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday processions. I have missed these for years.

We live near the town’s church. Hence, an hour before the (Friday) procession, we chanced on checking the poons (religious images) in Natividad Street. Most of these were still being prepped up.

At 7:00 PM, the poons were already gathered infront of the church.

Just the same as most of the poons, the sakristans (altar boys) were dressed in black or other color which depicts sadness on a Good Friday.

In our town, there are at least 30 poons joining the procession on a Holy Wednesday and Good Friday. The images, more or less, try to show what transpired from the day Jesus Christ arrived in Jerusalem, presence of apostles, the last supper, his crucifixion, the sadness of the Virgin Mary and the day Jesus Christ’s body was layed in the tomb.

Among the 30 poons, there are specific ones which are supposed to join the procession only on a Holy Wednesday or Good Friday. These three photos in the above collage were taken last Wednesday, the rest were snapped on last Friday.

The order of presentation of the poons may vary from town to town. There is a general conception that Saint Peter (with his chicken) should come first as he is the first saint who would welcome you in the gates of heaven. Some towns decide based on their patron saints.

As mentioned earlier, most of the poons wore a different set of clothing on a Holy Wednesday (e.g. blue, red, etc.) in contrast to Good Friday’s black to convey sadness over Jesus Christ’s death.

In our neighbor town, before the evening procession on a Good Friday, a dapit is being held at 3:00 PM. Only the poon above (laying) and the Pieta or Virgin Mary in black gown are joining the procession. And on Easter Sunday, the salubong is done at 5:00 AM to commemorate and celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection. (I have not witnessed this anymore since I went back here last Saturday night.)

The town’s traditional band plays at the end of the line, followed by the hampas (penitents). The latter joins a Holy Wednesday and/or Good Friday processions, or do their sacrifices on morning of Maundy Thursday and/ or Good Friday. Although it is no longer observed in many provinces/countries, there are still believers in this means of forgiveness of sins. I observed though that there are groups of teenage hampas who seem to do it as a barkada activity or without a solid reason. Some children fear them because of the blood and with the misconception that blood showers from the hampas will transfer the latter’s sins or misdeeds to them.

How and where did you observe the Holy Week?

This is one of the mosques that I see everyday. This accommodates one of the many male Muslims that regularly pray. Normally, the females pray in a private (prayer) room. Although there is plenty of mosques in the UAE, it is still not enough and/or not strategically located to accommodate the population. Hence, those praying near and by the beach is also a daily sight for non-Muslims like me.

The mosques may come in different colors and structure, but the crescent moon over there stays quite the same. And yes, today is the (Muslims’) Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.

This is my entry for this week’s photo hunt (theme: daily).

What are you giving up for Lent?

I don’t mean to sound preachy. I just thought of sharing the jist of the few articles about fasting that I read recently. After all, I’m one of those who are guilty of finding a perfect opportunity to trim weight during the Lent through fasting. Some of us give up meat, sweets, and other stuff that seem to be a hard habit to break, in order to fast.  But why do we really fast?

Fasting is about abstaining from food for spiritual reasons. A hunger strike done by some groups even for a good cause and diet programs are not a fast because they are for vanity and/or other reasons.  We should fast:

• So that our hearts will focus on God alone. In fasting, it is important to know why we are doing it. If there is no purpose, the practice is meaningless. As we fast, the motivation, sincerity and determination intensifies.
• So that what controls us is revealed to us. We discover that it is not food that sustains our lives;
• To uncover what is not essential to us. Our desires are often reckless, and they take over our lives. We crave for many things that we actually don’t need. By fasting, we feel the degree of control they have on us and we gain the opportunity to overcome them. The harder it is to fast, the stronger our desires grip us. But the more we fast, the faster we become free from them.

Isn’t it wonderful when we really know and appreciate why we’re doing something?

Related readings:

*Why we put ashes on our forehead

*Related points on fasting