A slide negative entitled ‘Temple Festival’ by Tan Lip Seng

The visiting of temples and offering of joss sticks in deity and ancestral worship are integral to the cultural tradition of the Chinese community in Singapore. Temple visits are often made on festive occasions such as the Lunar New Year and Vesak Day. The Chinese temples in Singapore were built by various immigrant dialect groups during the British colonial period. They were usually constructed and maintained by different clan associations, with donations from prominent Chinese community leaders and businessmen. Today, many Chinese temples in Singapore have evolved into popular tourist destinations because of their rich historical heritage and intricate architecture.