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Little India, Singapore

Little India
Subzone of Rochor Planning Area
Singapore
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese小印度
Xiǎo Yìndù (Pinyin)
Sió Ìn-tō͘ (Hokkien POJ)
 • MalayLittle India
 • Tamilசிறிய இந்தியா
Siṟiya intiyā (Transliteration)
Shophouses in Little India
Shophouses in Little India
Little India is located in Singapore
Little India
Little India
Location of Little India within Singapore
Coordinates: 1°18′23″N 103°51′06″E / 1.3065°N 103.8518°E / 1.3065; 103.8518
CountrySingapore

Little India (Tamil: லிட்டில் இந்தியா) is an ethnic enclave in Singapore located east of the Singapore River, across from Chinatown, and north of Kampong Glam.[1] Little India is commonly known as Tekka among the Indian Singaporean community. [2]

History

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Little India was initially a district used by Europeans for cattle trading, where Indian migrant workers found jobs, specializing in cattle rearing.[3] Its location along the Serangoon River provided good conditions for raising livestock, resulting in the growth of that industry.[4][5] Eventually, the swamps were drained, and the European cattle farmers and traders moved out. Many of the cattle rearing migrant workers stayed, and the neighborhood became predominantly inhabited by South Asians, namely people of Indian descent.

A traffic collision in the neighbourhood on December 8, 2013, sparked a two-hour melee that claimed one life and injured twenty-seven people. Forty people were arrested following this incident[6] .

Culture

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Little India during Deepavali

Under the modern People’s Action Party (PAP) policy of racial integration, Little India is deemed as a historical landmark. Many Indian businesses and cottage industries remain concentrated in Little India for the purpose of preserving cultural heritage. However, Little India is not the only zone in Singapore with a significant South Asian population, and Indian-dominant commercial zones can also be found in various Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates.

Little India is also home to Chinese Clan Associations, places of worship for various religions, and a range of businesses, including those selling electrical supplies, hardware, second-hand goods, and traditional items such as spice grinders and groceries.[7]

Little India is the center of Deepavali (Diwali) celebrations in Singapore.[8][9] Since 1989, the Deepavali light-up has taken place along Serangoon Road, covering over two kilometers with decorative lights. The Indian Heritage Centre organizes the Deepavali Open House, which includes cultural performances, rangoli workshops, and bus tours of the decorated areas.[8] A seasonal bazaar, known as the Deepavali Festival Village, features stalls selling traditional clothing, food, and household items. Celebrations typically conclude on Deepavali day, with some activities continuing into early November.[10]

Features

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Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Little India
Street in Little India

Serangoon Road is the main commercial thoroughfare in Little India. It intersects Rochor Canal Road and Bukit Timah Sungei Road. Along Serangoon Road are the Tekka Centre, the Tekka Mall, the Little India Arcade, Serangoon Plaza, and the Mustafa Centre (on a side road). Farrer Park Fields is located in the district. Several Hindu temples, mosques, and other places of worship include the Far Kor Sun Monkey God Temple, Foochow Methodist Church, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (completed in 1929), Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Angullia Mosque, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple, Jalan Mosque, and the Central Sikh Gurdwara.

Leong San See Temple

The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, along Racecourse Road, was established by a Thai monk, Venerable Vutthisasara, in 1927.[11] Leong San See Temple was built in 1917 and is dedicated to Guanyin, Bodhisattva of Compassion.[12]

Little India is also home to several art houses. In 1985, the National Arts Council launched the Arts Housing Scheme, aimed at identifying and renovating old buildings for arts and cultural activities. A line of shophouses along Kerbau Road were designated for the project, and the area is currently known as the Little India Arts Belt. As of 2011, there are seven arts organizations in the Belt. Three are contemporary theatre companies, while the other organizations involve traditional arts such as Malay dance and Indian theatre.[13]

Transport

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The area is served by the MRT on the North East line (at Little India and Farrer Park) and Downtown line (at Rochor and Jalan Besar). Bus services 23, 64, 65, 67, 131, 139, 147, and 857 pass through Little India via Serangoon Road.

Panoramic view of Little India. Taken from Farrer Park View Housing Estate.
Panoramic view of Little India. Taken from Serangoon Road.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ IndianDiaspora.org. "Little India of Singapore | Indian Diaspora". www.indiandiaspora.org. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Conservation Portal -". www.ura.gov.sg. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  3. ^ Singapore, National Library Board. "Little India". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  4. ^ Carl-Bernd Kaehlig; Swee Lin Khong (2008). Sari, Sarong and Shorts: Singapore's Kampong Glam & Little India. SNP Editions. p. 13. ISBN 978-981-248-178-8.
  5. ^ Sharon Siddique; Nirmala Puru Shotam; Nirmala Purushotam (1982). Singapore's Little India, Past, Present, and Future. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 10, 58. ISBN 978-9971-902-31-5.
  6. ^ Feng, Zengkun; Au-yong, Rachel (18 December 2013). "Riot: 28 face charges, 53 to be deported". The Straits Times, Singapore. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  7. ^ Henderson, Joan C. (June 2008). "Managing Urban Ethnic Heritage: Little India in Singapore". International Journal of Heritage Studies. 14 (4): 332–346. doi:10.1080/13527250802155851. ISSN 1352-7258.
  8. ^ a b "Indian Heritage Centre - Deepavali Open House 2024". www.indianheritage.gov.sg.
  9. ^ "Deepavali Celebrations in Singapore 2025". www.visitsingapore.com.
  10. ^ "Indian Heritage Centre - Discover Little India". www.indianheritage.gov.sg.
  11. ^ "Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple". Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Leong San See Temple". Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ^ TC, Chang (18 March 2014). "'New uses need old buildings': Gentrification aesthetics and the arts in Singapore". Urban Studies. 53 (3): 524–539. doi:10.1177/0042098014527482. S2CID 145702075. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
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