Go beyond Little India’s bold temples and boisterous scenes in this series of images by Asia Photo Collective. This is Singapore as we need to see it.
We know and love Little India for its hectic markets, technicolour scenes and festive energy, but we’re changing pace for the quiet connections, the moments around makan time and waves of workers winding down in this second installment of the Singapore Series by Asia Photo Collective…
Little India
It’s the last Friday of the month. It’s 5.30pm.
While most are trying to peel out of their offices, expelling the woes of engaging with difficult clients and thirsting for a beverage as the weekend comes edged into reality, the bustle begins to grow in Little India.
But it’s a different type of bustle.
Shift workers coming back from a long day. The Indian auntie ties her sari to pick up vegetables from the corner shop.
The dwindling afternoon heat brings some out of their HDB units to see the going ons, on the street.
The first delivery of foreign workers from the construction sites comes in, seeing them bustle towards TWC2 and the The Society of St Vincent de Paul donations line.
The mobile phones and headsets are whipped out, commencing long calls Home in Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati sounding almost like a whimsical tune.
Parents try to hold onto kids, who scatter like swallows at the sight of local desserts and sweets from South Asia.
$8 tall beers are cracked open as men gather to catch up on the days or weeks – with boisterous laughter.
Some hold hands, as they walk down the streets – a signifier of closeness and friendship. A different connotation to what some may assume.
Welcome to Little India.
Beyond the temples, if you take in the scents of spices and garlands – if you listen to the streets, the traffic, the hustle – you’ll feel a heartbeat here. And it’s beautiful.
About Asia Photo Collective
These photos and more are available for sale via www.asiaphotocollective.com, a new street photography photo collective born and raised in Singapore.