Pasar Newbies Vol. 2

Calling everyone who has always wanted to enter the pasar but may have felt too anxious to go!

Join us in this gentle introduction to Pasar Geylang Serai and get a glimpse of the wealth of stories it holds. Experience the pasar as a community space filled with culture, memory and connection.

Disclaimer: This is not a tour!

The program will start with an introduction to Pasar Geylang Serai as a living archive where patrons come in not to only buy ingredients but to engage with stall holders or other patrons walking past. The “bahasa pasar” comes in handy when we do these interactions, the intermingling colloquial use of dialects between hokkien, tamil and malay.

After that, participants will visit the wet market to experience the pasar organically.They will receive prompts of what they can ask the stallholders when buying items we will all be using to cook together later. This hopes to allow participants to engage the pasar in the most comfortable way without disrupting the traffic of the pasar.

After visiting the pasar, we will regroup and cook a dish that reflects our connections to Pasar Geylang Serai using items bought from the pasar visit. Participants can look forward to making Pucuk Paku masak Lemak with Fiddlehead ferns often available in Pasar Geylang Serai, cooked in a spicy turmeric coconut gravy.

About the Programme Series

Rooted in the living heritage of Geylang Serai, this pilot incubator programme at Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery invites Heritage practitioners to deepen their practice and reach new audiences by drawing on the rich stories and communities that have shaped this neighbourhood for generations.

The first edition, led by Sendok Rakyat, brings together practitioners to spark fresh curiosity and connection with Geylang Serai, creating experiences that resonate beyond the gallery . Each programme is supported by Wisma Geylang Serai and contributes to the broader Geylang Serai Cultural Belt rejuvenation efforts.