I recently volunteered as a photographer to cover a marathon raising funds for needy and disadvantaged children. This is a shot from a couple of weeks before the actual event, when they had the race pack distribution day. Seen here are the tote bags for the runners and in the background are other volunteers manning the distribution desks.

Shiva, one of the Trinity Lords of Hindu mythology, on the gopuram of the same temple. Shiva is typically depicted as seen here, with a crescent moon [the origins of which I have not been able to dig up], long and matted hair and a trident in his hand. It is not evident in this image but Shiva is supposed to be covered with ashes despite being a Lord, owing to his ascetic ways and mastery over the materialistic attractions of the world. Similarly, the tiger skin represents conquest of lust and its use is reserved for the supreme ascetics. In Hindu mythology, endless serpents signify eternity and thus the coiled snake around his neck indicates that he is beyond time. Next to him is Nandi, the bull which serves as his mount.

This is a very common depiction of all the central characters of Ramayana: L to R, Hanuman, Sita [consort of Lord Rama], Lord Rama himself and Lakshmana [younger brother of Lord Rama]. Lord Rama is considered to be the ideal man and Sita, the ideal woman. Lakshmana, although having his heart in the right place and all, is more prone to rash decisions and impulsive actions.

Another view of the Gopuram of Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple. Quite a few characters here which really fascinated me. Maintenance and restoration of these cannot be easy.

The monkey deity, known as Hanuman, is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. He was a central character in the war between the Gods and the demon king Ravana. An interesting and of course, fantastic anecdote of Hanuman: Long before meeting Lord Rama and becoming his devotee, as a child Hanuman one day he stepped out of home and was especially in an adventurous mood. Seeing the red sphere of the setting sun, he mistook it for a juicy fruit and flew all the way to swallow the sun. The King of Gods, Indra, struck the child monkey with a thunderbolt to make him spit out the sun, which rendered him (Hanuman) unconscious. And the plot thickens; Hanuman is the son of the Wind God, who ordered all the winds everywhere to stop. All life, divine and earthly, began to suffocate. All Gods rushed to pacify the Wind God and appeased him with everyone granting a boon to little Hanuman. It is to such a character this devotee pays obesiance.

Taken at the Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple. This flute playing figure represents Krishna, who is supposed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and in his earthly form was most often considered to be a cowherd, thus the depiction of a cow behind him. He is also generally regarded as a prankster.

Many headed deity and elephant.

A broader view of the Uttamayanmuni temple complex, surrounded by the towering residences. The entrance featured in my last post is visible on the right. The main prayer hall is the one on the left, while building seen further to the rear houses the offices and a hall for congregation.

It was a dreary day but the diffused light was instrumental in really illuminating this blue and gold of the entrance. The water festival of Thailand, also the start of the Thai New Year, is approaching soon and I think it maybe a good opportunity to make another visit owing to it close proximity. Without the camera most likely.

Uttayanmuni is in the western heartlands of Singapore and as such, is surrounded by residential blocks. Seen in the foreground are some of the public housing blocks, towering over the temple complex.

Right... enough of cemeteries and graveyards. This Thai style Buddhist temple is almost in my backyard. And I was completely unaware of its existence for about the year and a half that I have been staying at my current location.

There is a sizeable population of Sikhs in Singapore, originally employed chiefly in the police and military forces. Sikhs are mostly large bodied and powerful. In regiments in armies of countries, such as India, they are considered to be the most courageous and often highly decorated. No wonder that their statues were often installed as guardians of the graves of rich and powerful deceased of Singapore. The last image in the series of the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.