Singapore Shrines

Some old buildings are preserved in Singapore, you see a few of these when you are walking around Tiong Bahru, Joo Chiat, Tanjong Pagar and Little India, where these pictures were taken. On many of these buildings you often find a small metal shrine of red and gold either mounted on a column or on the ground.  Its a pretty simple affair, largely joss sticks and oranges. Sometimes what looks like a yellow sweetmeat. Though pretty much identical in a way, each is also quite different.  Some are well tended, some aren't cared for at all. And in Little India, sometimes a little idol of an Indian god is added.  

I couldn't get much information about them except of course that they seem to be shrines for houses and shops, for perhaps the usual purposes like bringing good luck or warding off the evil eye.  One old gentleman was amused by my interest in his shrine but didn't speak enough English, instead he pointed heavenwards and made a prayer sign so I take it that they are some kind of domestic gods.  It's possible that these are also present outside flats but of course they are not part of street life in the manner of older structures. 

In fact now and then walking around you see temporary structures for religious purposes. The other day there was a structure with a lot of red paper objects in it, from The Billion Shop I gather its some kind of old funeral ritual.  And it's not uncommon to stumble upon ceremonies that include singing and prayer. 

The pleasures of flaneuring:)