Sentosa Family Day

On Sunday the 26th of July, Narpani Peravai organised the Family day in Palawan Beach, Sentosa and this year the celebrations were splendid on the occasion of the Nation's 50th Independence Day.

Family day is conducted as a yearly get together for all Indians at any local attraction spot. The ticket is sold at a nominal rate of 10SGD. From 2010 we started participating in the family day for our little one to have fun in the community fair. That became a regular practice for us to be a part of a family in the Indian community. In 2011, the family day was organised at the same Island but in the Silosa beach, for the same ticket price. This year the ticket package was only for the island entry, lunch and souvenir plus a big surprise for the taste buds.

Our start wasn't pleasant as we weren't aware of the heavy showers in the late morning. We got stuck under a temporary roof where the downpour was on us. The organisers could have informed us on Facebook, at least we could have brought a Poncho. After an hour we all started our move towards the program area.

The first thing which caught my eyes was the bright coloured rangoli. Colour rice was used as the medium for this rangoli, done by Ms. Sujatha Suji from Bedok. She was so friendly and when I asked her consent to publish the kolam on my site, an immediate response of "Yes" was uttered. So nice of her. Thanks Ms. Sujatha Suji.

The Entertainment Part - This year Vishnu and Vijayalakshmi took care of the stage anchoring (Vishnu seemed to be too tired!!!) Music and Dance by local and Indian Artiste. In the first image that's the big stage where all the shows were performed. Singtel, the sponsor of the day had its marketing clips on the screen behind the performers. In the next picture - Aunties in their 60's performed Kolaatam. Actually I should have added this photo in the next collage. It was nice to see older generation still being enthusiastic in practicing this art form. After the show had a brief talk with one of the performers, she said they practice daily to contribute their part to keep this art alive, for fitness and more to socialise with real friends. (not the virtual)

The third picture shows the Indian small screen actresses and actors who performed dance. I could only recognise Vandhana and the other Suji bala who was to a new face to me, I am not a regular TV viewer. Below to that image, the Vijay Tv fame supersingers (Please don't ask me the name) who sang some songs.

In the evening it was the entry of movie stars, Lakshmi Rai and Shrikanth who were the special guest. Not sure what they spoke as I was too busy with my little one who was playing the kids games at the kids stall. A singer sang a soothing song from Meera "Oh Butterfly" was good to hear. I was impressed by his singing which, initiated to take a photo.

The next was the rekindling of Tamil arts and culture. "Naatupura Kalaigal" (folk arts) was staged to showcase our Tamil tradition to the younger generation. It was nostalgic to hear the music of the instruments used in Tamilnadu. The traditional games for kids, Kabadi match was conducted, gave a feel of being somewhere in Tamilnadu. Then the heritage stall where the achievements and development of the Indian community and how they stood by the nation were displayed. The lady in the photo is Ms. Sujatha Suji, creator of the above rangoli. With her permission the photo is displayed.

The feast for eyes and soul. The food part. There was a parotta challenge to prepare 1000 parottas in a stipulated time limit, later the parottas were distributed with chicken, curry, idly, vadai, tapioca with fish curry, honey chicken balls, Roti jala with chicken curry followed by Kachang puteh and tea in the evening. The queue wasn't so long somehow tried to manage to have a bite of everything to taste. And lunch was packed with ghee rice with meal maker curry. That was a tight packed meal, Isn't it??? All to the above the tea ranked high.

There were many entertainment to the kids but my Princess was more attracted to the water and she was more engrossed in building castles and playing in the water. Altogether we all had fun.