Bringing the Interfaith Community Together in Northeast Singapore

It was a very different Friday night on August 15, 2025 at the Compassvale chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sengkang, northeast Singapore. It was filled with handshakes, smiles and laughter that came from the inaugural Sengkang Interfaith Community Party. Jointly organised by the Sengkang Racial and Religious Harmony Circle and the Church’s Singapore Stake, the event saw 80 grassroots leaders, volunteers and members of religious organisations from the Sengkang area come together for an evening of unity and fellowship. 

The Racial and Religious Harmony Circles are a platform to promote racial and religious harmony in Singapore, with a presence in every constituency. The Interfaith Community Party is one of many events in the calendar that help bring various groups together to build friendship and trust - the mandate of the Harmony Circles.

A warm welcome to all was extended by host Singapore Stake President Jean-Luc Butel and special guest Dr. Lam Pin Min, Grassroots Advisor for the Sengkang Group Constituency. The evening festivities then started with a performance on the gourd flute by 11 members of the Chinese GongLiangFu HuLuSi JiaYuan interest group. This was followed by a Malay and cultural dance medley by three female performers from Sengkang Grassroots dressed in multicultural costumes. The final performance for the evening was by six talented Hindu girls from Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneeswarar Temple who performed traditional Indian dance. It was a special line up, showcasing the different aspects of Singapore’s culture.

Regardless of race or religion, durians are a unifying force for Singaporeans. This was evident in the high spirits around the room as everyone tucked into the durians. Besides durians, there were tropical fruits such as rambutans, jackfruits and fresh coconuts to “cool” down the body. LaVon Lew from the Singapore Stake Public Affairs Council shared, “We are very happy to be able to meet some of our neighbours and friends in the community. Religious organisations can set an example to the community on how to build strong and united ties within the community. The community party is one example of how we can build such strong ties by building on our common interests. We hope to be able to participate in more of such events in the future.”

Mr Imran Chng, Vice Chairman of the Sengkang West Harmony Circle commented that the evening was a “nice and cosy event with a lot of good interactions via the common culture of durian feasting” as it could “bring people to an instant closeness”. He thanked the organisers and hosts for their efforts.

The success of the inaugural Sengkang Interfaith Community Party reflects the strength and potential of unity in diversity. Through food, music, dance and heartfelt conversations, the evening fostered deeper understanding and friendships among neighbours of different faiths and cultures. As guests left with smiles and full hearts, the event stood as a meaningful reminder that harmony is built not just through dialogue, but through shared experiences.

Sister Lew said, “With such positive momentum, the hope is for more of these gatherings to continue building bridges within our vibrant and diverse community.”