Chinese New Year 2010 - A Roaring Countdown!

Chinatown
Central, Singapore
13-14 February 2010
 

Chinatown is a key focal point for Chinese New Year festivities in the few weeks leading up to Chinese New Year. It is also where local Chinese congregate year after year to shop for the necessary new year items for the home and to soak in the festive atmosphere. Enterprising merchants line Pagoda, Temple, Terengganu and Smith Streets with their bustling stalls. Traditional New Year cookies like love letters, kuih bangkit, and pineapple tarts are available here. Red God Of Wealth decorations, pussy willow, red-paper cuttings, and boxes of mandarins abound.

Welcoming the Year of the Tiger...

The Eve is when many Singaporeans congregate to get the best bargains at greatly discounted prices as the stallholders hurry to pack up for the night. On the last day of the Year of the Ox, crowds throng the streets to await the incoming new year with stage performers hosted by local and foreign celebrities. At the stroke of midnight, firecrackers and fireworks were let off to usher in the roaring Tiger Year!

Streets packed with shoppers grabbing last-minute bargains on New Year goodies...
 
Firecrackers and fireworks!
 
Amount of cleaning up that these cleaners have to do within a few hours...
 
Need a snack from a 24-hour fastfood outlet, anyone?
 
Well wishes on the door of an Indian temple...
 
Beautiful festive lighting...
 

More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa at :Festivals - Chinese New Year