HDB corridors have been home to some weird happenings and items, including a whole non-functional onsen spa.
At Block 64 Kallang Bahru’s fifth floor, this was taken to another level.
HDB Corridor Filled with Shrines with 62 Gods
8world News reported on the scene, finding the HDB corridor lined with many shrines dedicated to 62 deities.
Placed on tables and cabinets, the worshipped gods included the Laughing Buddha, the Bodhisattva Guanyin, Phra Phrom, the ruler of Hell King Yama, and the Daoist trio of gods Fu, Lu, and Shou.
Other deities present included Jesus Christ, Hindu gods such as Ganesha, and various Malay gods.
The shrines also featured mythical creatures like dragon turtles, money toads, carp, Chinese qilin, and an assortment of minor gods.
Truly a Singaporean display of multicultural religious harmony. There’s something for everyone.
A decent number of the altars included incense burners and floral garlands, filling the corridor with a faint scent.
That side of the corridor also included the usual stands for various potted plants.
Not to be outdone, the right side of the long corridor was also packed with other items like boxes, bicycles, a giant metal cabinet, cardboard, a table and two chairs, and a myriad of decorative items.
It seems unlikely that these serve a religious purpose, but we can’t say for sure.
Several Residents Criticise Obstruction to Wheelchairs
Unsurprisingly, the area drew much controversy. Not actually due to religious concerns, but rather one of wheelchair access.
Several residents with wheelchairs said that they would avoid that HDB corridor due to shrines being obstructive to them. One even claimed to have had to stand up and walk through the area due to their maid being unable to navigate the wheelchair through properly.
Another resident said that the area had a lot of elderly residents and that should an accident happen, paramedics would have difficulty pushing a stretcher through the corridor to render aid.
“I understand the importance of faith,” an interviewed homeowner said, “but public areas should remain clear. This corridor is now filled with godly statues and junk, which not only affects appearances but also creates safety hazards.”
At least one resident had a different problem, saying that the row of shrines was eerie to walk by at night. Though if you think about it, this place would be spiritually the safest area in the entire block.
They also feared their kids accidentally knocking one of the statues over, which fair enough, kids are prone to that.
A neighbour pointed to a specific unit that they said put up the shrines years ago, describing the owners as an Indian brother and sister who were very friendly.
Indian Resident Says He Only Placed 6 of the Statues
When interviewed, the 62-year-old retired Indian man said that his family had lived in the unit for over 40 years, though only he and his sister remained.
He said that he and his family were all devoutly religious, but not to any one faith.
He also alleged that only six of the 62 statues belonged to him. The others were reportedly added by different residents and he happily accepted them.
As for the clutter on the right side of the corridor, he explained that they included various tools and materials needed to construct Kavadi structures for Thaipusam each year, each one needing an entire month to make.
I guess they did serve a religious purpose.
Regarding complaints about obstruction, the Indian man argued that he had placed his shrines in a part of the HDB corridor with a wide width, so it did not cause inconvenience for wheelchair access.
He did not know if residents were complaining about another section of the corridor with shrines that did not belong to him.
The Indian resident added that town council officials in the past had only told him to keep the area clean without asking for the removal of the shrines.
Nonetheless, the Jalan Besar Town Council recently sent him a notice, requiring him to remove all the religious statues and other items in the corridor by 5 August.
He expressed his intention to comply with the order and had ready plans to clear the various items on the right side of the corridor.
However, he noted that religious depictions of deities could not be casually moved and said he would call the “appropriate” people to do so instead.
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