Global Indian Cultural Centre (GICC) conducts a host of events every year, along with participating in some of Singapore’s major competitions and community programmes.
GICC at Queenstown and East Coast mark their annual day celebrations, i.e. GICC Utsav and GICC Tarang respectively, to display the rich talent and effort of their students through vibrant and energetic performances. Based on different cultural themes every year, the annual day celebrations feature an enthralling combination of musical, vocal and dance performances.
Every year, GICC pays a special tribute to Saint Thyagaraja, the saint and great musician of Carnatic music through Thyagaraja Aradhana. Saint Thyagaraja was a devotee of Lord Rama and a prolific composer of numerous devotional songs, sung traditionally in every Carnatic music concert.
GICC celebrates the birth anniversary of Siva Punya Gana Mani Brahmashri Papanasam Sivan every year. Sivan Fine Arts Academy, in association with GICC, conducts music and dance competitions on songs of Papanasam Sivan, which includes vocals, violin, veena, flute, keyboard, Mridangam and Bharatanatyam.
The festival of Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi, is one of the most fascinating festivals of India and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm. GICC marks this festival by organising Vijayadashmi Pooja every year. It is a time-honoured belief that any new venture that commences on this day will be successful. Initiating a child into the world of learning also commences on this day. Led by the GICC’s performing arts teachers, a special prayer is held that is followed by students of each group being taught a new lesson in the characteristic gurukul style.
Over the years, GICC has been invited by various Community Centres (CCs) across Singapore to perform as part of their Lunar New Year celebrations. GICC students have displayed the rich Indian cultural heritage through their vibrant performances for local residents. Such participation has boosted GICC’s efforts towards encouraging community and social integration.
GICC has been invited to deliver special cultural performances across various temples in Singapore to mark the auspicious occasion of Navaratri. For GICC students, temple performances during Navaratri celebrations form a part of their learning process. These performances boost their confidence and prepare them to perform on bigger platforms.
Bharatham is Singapore’s national dance competition and brings forth participation from the best Bharatanatyam dancers across the city-state to compete in Senior and Junior categories. GICC students have delivered award-winning performances at the competition and secured top spots in both categories, over the years.