RVCooks

Is cultural heritage intangible?

Background information:

How much of our cultural heritage is something tangible? In Singapore, we have the Unesco intangible cultural heritage award for hawker culture, where certain values and practices put forth a kind and respectful peoples. Are there parts of it that we can touch and feel? What makes us a united people? Are there trade-offs?

Source A: A primary source about the childhood of an Indian female warrant officer in the army

Source B: A written autobiography about “Indianness” in Singapore 

Source C: A description of Japanese goods sold in Singapore 

Source D: A source about dragon dance in Singapore 

Source E: A source about Malay culture in Singapore written by some travellers from Australia

We are a group of people with disabilities from Melbourne coming to Singapore for the first time. Where most of the attractions in Singapore were unable to give us concession rates for us, The Malay lady at the ticketing booth, without even blinking gave us free passes. We were so pleasantly surprised by the kindness and the area is also very well accessible for people with disabilities and seniors. So if you cant walk that much and need assistance-This is one of the best place to go. The centre is clean, simple and very informative about the Malay Community of Singapore. We learnt quite a lot from the intimate setting and took a lot of nice photos. Good to go on a rainy day as well.

Thank you again and bless you.

Source F: An account of Theemithi, the Hindu fire walking ceremony, a festival celebrated in Singapore 

Cultural heritage is an important part of a Singaporean’s identity. It is how one expresses their thoughts, beliefs and way of life. Like the way Theemithi, an approximately three-month long Hindu festival is celebrated. At the end of Theemithi, the ceremonial priest joins volunteers in a 2½-mile (4-kilometer) walk from Sri Mariamman Temple to Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, and then back. They carry sacred items like the karagam, a silver pot filled with water, adorned with mango leaves and flowers — a manifestation of the goddess Draupadi, the heroine from the tales of Mahabharata. Once they return to Sri Mariamman Temple, the fire-walking procession commences. Hindu men walk barefoot across burning wood to show devotion to Draupadi, praying to ease suffering in their lives.