Racial Harmony Day is a day in Singapore to celebrate its success as a racially harmonious nation. It is observed on 21 July every year, with most activities organised by schools and grassroot organisations, including religious groups.
History:
First launched in 1997 by the Ministry of Education in schools, the event commemorates the 1964 Race Riots which took place on 21 July 1964 when Singapore was still part of Malaysia (1963–1965) – 22 people lost their lives and hundreds were severely injured. There were numerous other communal riots and incidents throughout the 50s and 60s leading to and after Singapore’s independence in August 1965.[1]
Racial Harmony Day has since expanded its reach. Today, grassroots organisations such as the People’s Association and the Community Development Councils are also involved.
On this day, students in schools across the nation are encouraged to be dressed in other culture’s traditional costumes such as the Cheongsam, the Baju Kurung and Saree. Traditional delicacies are a feature of the celebrations. Traditional games such as five Stones, zero point, and hopscotch are played, where inter-class competitions are sometimes organised. Some activities introduced by schools include designing Kolams and Maruthani, and Henna hand painting.
The event is an annual religious community effort to strengthen ties among Singaporeans of different faith communities to get together and celebrate diversity.
Declaration of Religious Harmony:
The Declaration of Religious Harmony of Singapore is a statement that affirms the importance of, and the commitment of Singaporeans towards, religious harmony. It is a basis for Singaporeans to reflect on religious harmony, and what should be done to achieve it.
The idea of having a Code on Religious Harmony was proposed by the then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in September[1] or October 2002.[2] This followed strains in racial harmony in the country following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States of America and the arrest and detention of members of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network in Singapore in December 2001.
The Declaration was issued in 2003 by a working committee chaired by Minister of State Chan Soo Sen and involving the national bodies of all mainstream religious groups in Singapore, after six months of intense debate over its wording.
Subsequently, an Inter-Religious Harmony Circle (IRHC) comprising representatives of the religious groups involved in the working committee was formed to promote the Declaration. The IRHC has encouraged Singaporeans to recite the Declaration during the week when Racial Harmony Day (21 July) is marked every year.
We, the people in Singapore, declare that religious harmony is vital for peace, progress and prosperity in our multi-racial and multi-religious Nation.
We resolve to strengthen religious harmony through mutual tolerance, confidence, respect, and understanding.
We shall alwaysRecognise the secular nature of our State,
Promote cohesion within our society,
Respect each other’s freedom of religion,
Grow our common space while respecting our diversity,
Foster inter-religious communications,
and thereby ensure that religion will not be abused to create conflict and disharmony in Singapore.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Racial Harmony Day in Singapore 2019
Our Home at Buangkok Racial Harmony Month Buangkok Fun Carnival
Sunday, 7 July 2019 – 9.30am – 1:30pm @Compassvale Ancilla Park
Tickets: $2
Compassvale Helm Residents’ Network together with Compassvale Coris RC / Compassvale Aspella RC / Compassvale Ancilla RC will be co-organising Our Home at Buangkok : Racial Harmony Month “Buangkok Fun Carnival 2019” event on 7 July 2019, Sunday.
Inter-racial family Day 2019!
Saturday, 13 July 2019 – 2pm – 6pm @Gallop Stable at Turf Club
Tickets: $15.90 – $5.50
Our main event this year is set to take your kids for a ride! Featuring pony riding for kids and stable-themes activities, this family day will be hosted at Gallop Stable, and there will be a lucky draw with a cash prize up for grabs!
We Are Family – RaciaL Harmony Carnival
Saturday, 13 July 2019 – 10am – 3pm @Blk 142 , Pasir Ris St 11
Tickets: $5
Racial Harmony Day at Damai
(Click image for more details)
Saturday, 20 July 2019 – 5.30pm – 7.30pm – @Pavilion, 604 Punggol Road
Tickets: $3
Racial Harmony Online Race 2019
(click Image for More Infos)
Sunday, 21 Jul 2019 – Monday, 5 Aug 2019 @Anywhere
Tickets: $10.98 – $352.224
Racial Harmony Day on 21 July every year, is an important day in Singapore to celebrate our success as a racially harmonious nation. Let’s join in the community effort to strengthen ties among Singaporeans of different faith communities to get together and celebrate diversity with this meaningful online race.
RACIAL HARMONY CARNIVAL
Sunday, 21 July 2019 – 3pm – 9pm @VenuePunggol Field
Free Admision
The Racial Harmony Carnival is attended by more than 10,000 residents from Punggol North annually. This platform gives us the opportunity to introduce our church and ministries to the community.
Racial Harmony Night
Sunday, 28 July 2019 – 5pm – 8.30pm @Taman Jurong Green Park
Tickets: $3
Racial Harmony Day is a day in Singapore to celebrate its success as a racially harmonious nation. It is observed on 21 July every year, with most activities organised by schools and grassroot organisations, including religious groups.
