๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต: ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ – ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐น๐บ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ
November 6, 2025
Check out some photos from our recent screening and discussion of Gods on Earth: Everyday Sacred in a Global City and Chinese Vernacular Shrines in Singapore!
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ABOUT THE FILM – Gods on Earth: Everyday Sacred in a Global City
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In a secularised, densely populated, and rapidly evolving global city, how do ordinary people create sacred spaces in unexpected places?
Gods on Earth: Everyday Sacred in a Global City takes you on a journey into the Chinese vernacular shrine culture in Singapore. The small, unformalised shrines, often found beside big trees and at roadsides, nestle in the nooks and crannies of public spaces. Ubiquitous but often ignored by passers-by, these humble sites hold immense social and cultural significance.
Hear the stories from devotees, witness the fascinating rituals, and gain insights into the multi-ethnic communities that sustain these shrines. Meet Chinese and Hindu deities, Datuks, Erawan, Nang Kwak, animal spirits, and other sacred entities that showcase the rich spiritualism practised daily. These shrines also play a pivotal role in cementing local community bonds in a dynamic urban setting. This documentary is narrated by religion scholars, Francis Lim and Kuah Khun Eng, and directed by Lynn Wong.
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ABOUT THE BOOK – Chinese Vernacular Shrines in Singapore
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Embark on a captivating cultural journey of discovery into the enchanting realm of Chinese vernacular shrine culture in Singapore. Vernacular shrines are small, unformalised shrines located next to trees, in hawker centres and bus interchanges, at the roadsides, and other public spaces. They may appear humble but hold immense social and cultural significance.
Through interviews, fieldwork data, and striking photographs, this book explores the history, evolution, and a panoply of deities, traditions, peoples, and communities associated with these shrines. Prepare to be mesmerised by the blending of belief systems and multicultural practices, where popular Chinese gods and goddesses sit alongside Hindu deities, Datuk Gong, and Nang Kwak. These shrines not only manifest a pluralistic character but also function as social spaces for forging inter-ethnic and community identities on a micro-societal level. Discover the captivating stories, myths, and rituals that make these shrines an integral part of Singaporeโs cultural heritage.
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Download the programme here.