Pre- exhumation rituals for the nearly 4,000 pioneers who will have to be exhumed to make way for the highway, took place on the morning of Thursday, 28th November.  A short and simple ceremony, it was organised by the Land Transport Authority and  Swee Hong construction company  for descendants. More than 500 descendants together with well wishers and brownies were in attendance.

The rituals were conducted by 7 members of the Inter Religious Organisation.

Prayers were offered for the peaceful move of the soon to be exhumed pioneers to their new homes and for the safety of the people who will be working on the site.

The descendants who arrived were confronted by a new almost “fortress-like” Bukit Brown where barriers had been put up in preparation for exhumations, scheduled to begin in December 2013

Descendants arriving to participate in the prayers for the deceased. (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

The area for the ritual prayers was under a marquee enclosed by a metal barrier and restricted to descendants. Registration was required.

Registration (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

The area within was quickly filled to capacity

Pre exhumation rituals ( photo Jennifer Teo )

It quickly became standing room only

Pre exhumation rituals ( photo Jennifer Teo )

Pre exhumation rituals ( photo Mil Phuah)

The scheduled time to begin the prayers was 10am. It was delayed because of the unexpected crowds and started about 15 minutes later.

Religious leaders  from left to right  represented: Jainism , Buddhism , Taoism , Hinduism , Christianity, Sikhism and Baha’i faith (photo below)

The prayers begin (photo Walter Lim)

The religious leaders took their turns to pray starting with Jain leader in pink, followed by Buddhist leader. (photo below)

Buddhist religious leader (photo Jennifer Teo)

The Taoist leader (in black robes) was followed by the Hindu religious leader

Hindu religious leader (photo Jennifer Teo)

Religious leader of the Sikhs (photo Jennifer Teo)

Christian religious leader (photo Jennifer Teo)

Baha’i faith leader (photo Jennifer Teo)

The prayers took about 10 minutes and the ceremony was over. A few descendants took the opportunity to also pay their last respects personally to their ancestors and came bearing offerings.

Pre  Exhumation Rituals  (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

Families conducting their personal Pre Exhumation Rituals (photo Khoo Ee Hoon)

Family with 3 affected tombs (Khoo Ee Hoon)

A lone offering, but all it takes is just one person to remember (photo Walter Lim)

Victor Lim, a brownie offered his own prayers of remembrance and respect  to the earth deity at the Lorong Halwa gates. Bukit Brown to him is a place to remember his ancestors and affectionately as he is always wont to say “my playground”

Victor Lim : “I don’t know when we can meet again. Since the past 1 1/2 years, we have been meeting with those lonely souls every week. This morning we are departing from this endless,  from a party that needs to be dispersed. Alas, we would still need to leave and this brings me good memory. I wish you all the best, bless you peace when you leave, and may this good luck come forth to your new home. We will think of you now and then, and we will be together , not forgetting the milestones of our social memories and roots.”

Brownie Victor Lim at Pre exhumation ritual (photo Raymond Goh)

And finally, all the way from London, Sugen Ramiah remembers Bukit Brown in his prayers at the Westminster Cathedral. His message : While Rev Fr Paul Staes said a prayer for the dead in Bukit Brown, I too lit up a candle and said a prayer for the dead in the Chapel of Holy Souls.

Eternal rest
grant unto them O Lord,
may perpetual light
shine upon them;
May they rest in peace. Amen

From Westminister Cathedral candles burning for Bukit Brown (photo Sugen Ramiah)

Amen, indeed amen. A ceremony that seem all to short,  commemorates a farewell to those for whom Bukit Brown has been home for decades. We wish you all a safe and peaceful passage to your new homes.

Read Walter Lim’s blog on the rituals in Chinese here

A postscript. Thursday, 28 November 2013, was also the day the Roundabout became a Road.

Thursday, 28 November : The Roundabout becomes a Road (photo Raymond Goh)

Follow the path of destruction here