Tekka Market - Then and Now

Former Kandang Kerbau Market in 1969

The market was originally located between Hastings Road and Sungei Road, and first known as Kandang Kerbau (or just KK), Malay for "buffalo pens", referring to the slaughterhouses operating in the area until the 1920s. It was also known as Tek Kia Kha, in Hokkien where it means "foot of the small bamboos", because bamboo plants once grew on the banks of the Rochor Canal. Its name was later adapted to Tekka Pasar, where pasar is Malay for "market".

The archived photos are posted on this blog to share for educational purposes. With acknowledgement and thanks to contributors at National Archives of Singapore.

In the 1980s, the mobile markets were at the door-steps of the villagers in the morning daily.

Near Tekka Market, the roadside stalls was popular before the licensed stall-holders were moved into the completed market for the convenience, safety and hygienic environment and traffic control for the public.

As a wet market, food centre and shopping mall under one roof, Tekka Centre is a place where several ethnic communities converge to create a multicultural shopping fiesta. Established in 1915, Tekka Centre moved to its current location in 1982 and is a landmark in Little India.

Today, Tekka Center remains a landmark in Little India, where different ethnic communities congregate. There are Chinese stallholders who speak Tamil, and vice versa. Shops sell traditional Indian costumes and inexpensive casual clothes.

On the ground floor is a hawker centre with stalls which sell Indian vegetarian meals, served on banana leaves or on stainless steel platters, besides Chinese vegetarian, North Indian and Malay food.

At the wet market which is on the same level, stalls sell fresh seafood, especially crabs from Sri Lanka, and vegetables. There are also many Chinese stalls selling vegetables that are specially flown in from India.

Tekka Market - Then