Sree Maha Mariamman Temple

The Temple’s historical background traces back to 82 years with its humble beginning in Sembawang Estate 12th mile, ahead of the Japanese Occupation. Then a timber statue was being worshipped by some Hindu estate workers. Later it is said that some senior estate workers made the statue of Sree Maha Mariamman from cement and placed Her in a small shrine within a rubber estate.

The Temple then served as a focal point for the Hindu estate workers in the Sembawang Rubber Estate area. When the Japanese occupied Singapore from 1941-45, the Temple could not be properly managed at the 12th mile for various reasons, including lack of funds. Sometime in 1947 the statue of Sree Maha Mariamman was reinstalled and reconsecrated at yet another new abode at Nee Soon (Mandai Road). During the period between 1950 and 1960 or thereabout, the Temple saw two consecration ceremonies for two different reasons.

The first one was after the replacement of cement statues with granite statues specially ordered for and made in South India. Besides Sree Maha Mariamman, the statues of Sree Sivan, Sree Krishnar, Sree Vinayagar and Sree Murugan were also installed. The subsequent consecration ceremony was performed after the Temple was salvaged from a dilapidated state. The formalisation of the Temple and its Constitution was done in 1965 when the Institution was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies. Few years later in 1971, the Temple received a major overhaul with extensive renovations. In conjunction with this restoration, another consecration ceremony was conducted. This time around a “Kalasam”(vessel) was installed at the pinnacle of Sree Maha Mariamman’s sanctum roof. Granite statues of Sree Nagar and Sree Saneeswarar were also installed during this period. Further in 1991, a Maha Kumbabishegam was performed when Navagrahams were installed.

Transforming the present vicinity into an important religious and social focal point for more than a decade, the Sree Maha Mariamman Temple has brought relevance to our national objectives by fostering closer ties amongst multi-religious and multi-racial organizations, assisting and promoting greater social integration amongst newcomers and locals and by playing a community role in conducting and participating in various community events. The Temple is also an active partner with the many community clubs and charitable organizations engaging citizens in whatever way it can, promoting inter faith and cultural understanding.

The Sree Maha Mariamman Temple has come a long way in establishing itself as an integral component of both the Hindu community and Singapore at large. With the enormously successful recently concluded Grand Consecration Ceremony on 18th April 2010, our vision is to continue the excellent cultural exchange programmes with the various grassroot organisations, community clubs, resident committees, charitable societies and religious centres.