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A ship to send off the emperor gods

On Wednesday night, a procession of floats, performers in costumes and hundreds of devotees from Hong San Temple Association made their way from the temple in Defu Lane to the beach at East Coast Park.

It was the ninth day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a key event in the Taoist calendar.

The 10-day celebration culminated in devotees setting a ship made of paper ablaze, before releasing it into the sea.

The ritual is to bid goodbye to the nine emperor gods, who devotees believe provide blessings and protection.

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, or Jiu Huang Ye Festival, is a celebration that dates back 2,000 years.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 23, 2015, with the headline A ship to send off the emperor gods. Subscribe