THE sun was yet to rise, but the Tay Kek Sie Temple was already crowded with visitors. Amid the reddish luminescence of the lanterns, people were going about, busily arranging the procession. The Red & White flag was in the forefront, followed by the banner of the Tay Kek Sie Temple, the banner of the Temple of Sam Poo Tay Djien or Sam Poo Kong, another name under which Cheng Ho was known.

The procession was longtwo large gongs, heirlooms, a dr