Happy Deepavali

It was a super hot day at Waterloo Street this morning and I had to move a few times to the shades to protect myself. We were sketching the Sri Krishnan Temple celebrating Deepavali tomorrow. Sri Krishnan Temple is 150 year old Hindu temple dedicated exclusively to Sri Krishna and his consort Rukmini.

Over time, a practice of cross-worshipping has evolved between devotees of the Sri Krishnan Temple and the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple. In early 80s, a small urn was placed at the entrance for Chinese worshippers to place their joss sticks and in the late 1980s, a larger urn could be found at the entrance to hold more joss sticks. Later, the temple administration added a statue of Guanyin inside their temple, and designated a zone within the temple compound for Buddhist worshippers to offer joss sticks.

The temple is known for its celebrations of Deepavali and Krishna Jayanthi. It is next to the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, and near a Methodist chapel and the Maghain Aboth Synagogue. Waterloo Street is truly a harmonious street.