Festival shopping in Singapore’s Chinatown district

Courtesy Singapore Tourism Board

Birthday of the Monkey God
The Birthday of the Monkey God is celebrated at the Monkey God Temple on Seng Poh Road, opposite Tiong Bahru Market. Mediums possessed by the mischievous Monkey God slash themselves with blades before dispensing paper charms to devotees.

Nine Emperor Gods Festival
The Nine Emperor Gods are believed to cure ailments and bestow good fortune and longevity when they visit earth during the nine days of this festival. Images of the nine gods are paraded, each in a decorative sedan chair carried by eight men.

Navarathiri Festival
For 10 days, all Hindu temples come alive with Indian songs and dances in honor of the gods’ consort in the Hindu trinity. A procession led by a silver horse brings the festival to a close on the tenth day at the Sri Mariamman Temple.

Pilgrimage to Kusu Island
According to legend, a turtle once turned itself into an island to save two ship-wrecked sailors – a Malay and a Chinese. Every year, thousands make their pilgrimage in brightly decorated boats to Tua Pekong Temple on Kusu Island to pray for prosperity, good luck and fertility.

Thimithi Festival
Thimithi is an annual fire-walking ceremony held in honor of the goddess Draupadi, heroine of the epic poem “Mahabharata,” who was deified by the Hindus of South India as Draupadi Amman.

Source: Singapore Facts and Pictures 2002,
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts