霹靂壇 [pi li tan] Tentage Tuesday 9 December 2008 On my way home from work, I detoured to briefly visit a tentage at Bedok North by Blk 517. It was the last night for the tua's celebration for the Laughing Buddha, Maitreya, the next day being for the dismantling of the tentage. Tonight was listed as being for the crossing of the 平安桥 [ping an qiao] (Peace Bridge). There weren't that many people there - perhaps 25 to 30 waiting to cross the Peace Bridge and an equal number of onlookers.

This was an unusual tua with the central altar being occupied almost solely by the Maitreya Buddha. The only other deity at the central altar seemed to be 齐天大圣 [qi tian da sheng] (Monkey God). By the headband on one of the two tangkis, I identified him as jumping 齐天大圣. Given that the other tangki was going 'ha, ha, ha' regularly, I'd say he was jumping Maitreya Buddha.

My attention was caught by this little girl taking photos: Humm, the next generation of camerawomen?