Amid the lively sounds of chien tung (Chinese fortune sticks) shaking in their tins, lies one of Singapore's most bustling temples (facebook.com/kwanimthonghoodchotemple). Devoted to the popular goddess of mercy, Kuan Yin (Guan Yin), it's a cherished destination for those seeking good fortune. So revered is this institution that on the eve of every Chinese New Year, devotees huddle around the main incense pot and race to be the first to plunge their sticks into the urn to claim the fresh blessings of the year.
The temple's colorful facade exemplifies the craftsmanship popular in the late 19th century, with grand pagoda rooftops and ornate carvings showcasing a rich array of motifs including dragons, phoenixes and water lilies – that is, if you can make them out through the thick incense smoke. The entrance buzzes with elderly vendors, some peddling chrysanthemums and lotuses as fresh offerings, or fortune tellers eager to share sagely advice from palm and face readings. Up the street, believers rub the belly of a majestic bronze Buddha Maitreya, hoping for an extra dose of luck. In a very Singaporean case of religious pragmatism, worshipers also offer prayers at the polychromatic Hindu Sri Krishnan Temple (facebook.com/SriKrishnanTemple) next door. You can never have too many blessings, right?