As part of the programme of the trip, visits to temples related to Xuan Tian Shang Di were also included. Upon arrival in Xiamen on 13 Oct 09, the small group of 13 visited the first temple in this village in Dang Wua (Tong An) near to Xiamen. This village was in a way related to the older Singaporeans who hailed from it, and some members were active in Heng Kang Tian in the early days (from 1950s). So, it was appropriate that this little entourage visits the village and the village temple.
To our surprise, there was a troupe of lady drum dancers waiting for us when we arrived in the late afternoon. Fire crackers broke the silence of the village and drums rolled. The dancers were all from the village. They led us to the village where we paid our respect to Siong De Gong (Xuan Tian Shang Di) and other resident Deities of the temple.
The village elders were there to greet us and to introduce us to the Deities. The temple courtyard came alive with the performance by the ladies and practically, almost every villager turned up to greet us. The children were most excited in seeing a group of overseas Chinese visiting their village.
A link has been fortified, a renewal of an old link.
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