Karma Kaariya Nilaiyam: New Changi Beach facility gives Hindu families a dignified space for post-death rituals
2 min read
After years of performing last rites on open sand in the dark, Hindu families in Singapore now have a dedicated, sheltered space at Changi Beach to conduct post-death rituals with privacy and dignity.
The new facility, Karma Kaariya Nilaiyam, was officially opened on December 29. Located beside Carpark 2 at Changi Beach, the one-storey building houses four private halls and is managed by the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB).
The project was first announced five years ago. The facility is meant for Karumathi prayers, which are Hindu rites performed on the 13th or 16th day after cremation to mark the end of mourning.
Earlier, Hindu families carried out these rituals on mats laid on the beach, often before sunrise, exposed to rain, wind and poor lighting, reports said.
HEB secretary Satish Appoo said the board wanted to build a facility provides a calm, dignified and respectful environment. The site is not meant for the scattering of ashes but only for post-death rites, he added.
Families can book two-hour slots online for a fee of SGD 50. Entry is managed through a digital access link sent by SMS and email. Each hall can accommodate up to 12 people, with dividers allowing multiple families to use the space at the same time.
The Construction took about one and a half years and cost SGD 550,000. Appoo said securing the beachfront land required coordination with several government agencies. HEB also ran a three-month trial earlier this year with three temples.
