R. Jayaselvam, owner of Anushia Flower Shop, making flower garlands using Button Roses at his shop in Little India.SINGAPORE — Death is brisk business for garland maker R. Jayaselvam these days. Out of every 100 garlands he crafts, 60 are for funerals, while the rest are for weddings.
The self-taught garland maker with 40 years of experience now works alongside his two sons to meet this growing demand. The end-of-life journey is the inspiration behind an upcoming festival organised by non-profit organisation My Community, which is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Lee Foundation and Ang Chin Moh Foundation.
Tan started offering band services in 2015, and leads a team of about 30 to play mourning music at funerals. Most are for elderly Taoists and Buddhists, although he has also started seeing Hindu clients in recent years."Maybe it will be in good demand for another five years. Though we have an ageing society, some Singaporeans prefer simpler funerals without a band."
Dapur Kubur Singapore director Terry Ong, 46, painting the letters that were engraved on the granite tombstones at his workshop in Boon Lay on Oct 2, 2024. PHOTO: The Straits Times "When the death rate rises, we need enough people to service the dead and their families," he said. "It’s a 24/7 calling as death can occur any time.""When I first started, some people crushed my name card when they saw that I am a funeral director," he recalled. "Now, people are curious and ask us questions about our profession instead."
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