You Would Need to Book an Appointment to Columbaria During Certain Days for Qing Ming Festival 2022

The upcoming Qing Ming Festival brings about a more sombre mood.

It is a time to remember the dead, by offering food items, willow branches, accessories and other things to them. Family members will also clean the gravestones of their ancestors.

But before you plan your trips to the cemetery and columbaria, here are some guidelines you’ll have to follow this year.

General COVID-19 Restrictions Remain In Place

The Qing Ming Festival will take place on 5 April 2022, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) is expecting crowds starting as early as 26 March to 17 April.

In view of the COVID-19 situation, NEA reminds all members of the public to be socially responsible, and not visit if they feel unwell.

As crowds are expected in the cemeteries and columbaria, visitors should follow these guidelines to stay safe:

• If visiting in groups, adhere to the prevailing social group size set by the Health Ministry
• Avoid bringing elderly family members or young children
• No eating, and do not prolong your stay at facilities
• No bringing of pets
• Avoid crowding at niche room, around prayer and joss paper burning areas
• Wear a mask properly at all times (yes, that means nobody should be seeing your nose)
• Practise COVID-19 Safe Management Measures, like standing 1m apart from other groups
• For those intending to drive and park at Choa Chu Kang or Mandai Columbaria, carpool and register your vehicles.

Changes in Operating Hours and Opening Days

As they expect an increase in visitors during this period, NEA will extend the opening hours for government-managed columbaria. From 26 March to 17 April 2022, Choa Chu Kang, Mandai and Yishun Columbaria will open 24 hours daily.

The Garden of Peace, an inland ash scattering facility, will be closed to visitors on weekends and public holidays during this period. Only those with an approved booking for inland ash scattering will be allowed access into the Garden of Peace.

This is to give those who have booked slots for the scattering of ashes privacy.

E-Appointment Booking System for Those Driving To CCK and Mandai Columbarium

Since there’s higher niche occupancy at Choa Chu Kang and Mandai columbaria, NEA expects larger crowds this year.

To improve traffic flow, NEA will use an e-appointment booking system for those driving to these columbaria during the Qing Ming period. This would be applicable between 6am and 4pm on selected dates.

For Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, this would only apply on weekends, Qing Ming festival and Good Friday. The dates are as follows:

• March 2022: 26, 27
• April 2022: 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

For Mandai Columbarium, this system will apply daily from 26 March to 17 April 2022.

Only vehicles registered with valid e-appointments will be allowed to enter and park during these periods. Visitors will need to show the confirmation email or SMS upon entry.

Do note that if you drive in outside the appointment time, you may be denied entry for parking.

NEA will release appointment slots two weeks before the visiting days, starting on 12 March at 10am. Booking slots are in two-hour intervals from 6am to 4pm, and you can make your appointments here.

Non-registered vehicles that want to drop off passengers may use the drop-off/pick-up points near the pedestrian gate along Mandai Avenue for Mandai Columbarium. For Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, you can be dropped off at Carpark C, Amenities Block.

For information on real-time traffic conditions outside Mandai and Choa Chu Kang columbaria, you can click here.

Shuttle Bus Services For CCK and Mandai Facilities

To minimise traffic congestion, visitors should take the shuttle buses provided during the designated dates, or use public transport.

For Choa Chu Kang Cemetary and Columbarium Complex, shuttle bus services are provided at $1 per trip. You can take the shuttle bus to and from the Claims and Registration Office (2 Christian Cemetary Path 2).

Drivers who wish to use this shuttle bus service may park along the left-hand side of the Christian Cemetary paths, Car Park A along Jalan Behar, and Car Park B along Old Choa Chu Kang Road.

For Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex, there are closures of some roads and car parks near the columbarium’s blocks B and C. A shuttle bus service will be provided at $1 per trip, to and from Khatib MRT Station (Exit A pick-up point).

NEA encourages drivers to park their vehicles near Khatib MRT Station and use the shuttle bus service.

For both shuttle services, it will be at 15-minute intervals, from 7am to 5pm. This is applicable for weekends, Qing Ming Day and Good Friday, from 16 March to 17 April.

The dates are as follows:

• March 2022: 26, 27
• April 2022: 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

Reduce Fire Risk By Using Burners, Containers

If you’re going to be burning joss paper and offerings, please use burners and containers to minimise fly ash and keep the environment clean. You’re also encouraged to burn offerings in small quantities to minimise smoke emissions.

Avoid creating fire hazards, like leaving lit candles and matches unattended, especially in Singapore’s dry and warm weather.

Burners are available at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Mandai, Yishun and Choa Chu Kang columbaria.

Local Town Councils will also provide burners and containers at public housing estates for residents to use.

The public is also reminded to not leave behind any food offerings or litter after visiting, to prevent any mosquito or rat friends from visiting.

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Third-Party Grave Maintenance Services

NEA provides regular grass-cutting maintenance for Choa Chu Kang Cemetery’s common areas. However, this does not include maintenance for individual graves or monuments.

If anyone approaches you for grave maintenance service fees at the cemetery, those are not regulated or endorsed by NEA. If you have not made prior arrangements for such services, you’re advised to not pay anyone who claims to have maintained the graves of your loved ones.

NEA has reminded third-party grave maintenance service providers to not engage in illegal activities like touting, extortion, harassment and cheating.

However, if you encounter any such incident, do lodge a police report. Alternatively, you can contact NEA’s hotline at 62255632.

Always Exercise Care While Going To/From and Visiting Facilities

For visitors at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, please wear protective footwear (not slippers) and watch out for potholes, cracks, uneven or rough surfaces when walking within the compound.

As high traffic is expected at these facilities during the Qing Ming period, pedestrians should look after the safety of themselves and others when crossing roads. Drivers are also reminded to stay alert and pay attention to their surroundings while driving.

For a full list of guidelines and more details on transport services and opening hours, you can visit NEA’s website.

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Featured Image: National Environment Agency