A woman enters the drum tower and, using two long sticks whose ends are bound with red cloth, sounds a hanging gong that must be eight feet in diameter. It reverberates, perhaps for miles. The offering ceremony

has begun. Women costumed as ancient soldiers clear the terrace, which is carpeted in fuchsia.

Hundreds of dancers carrying streaming pennants parade up the steps, the men wearing robes of frosted gold, the women dressed in frosted pink. They use long feathers to create arches between them, seeming to swirl and float, integrate and atomize, cluster and serpentine in a graceful, sophisticated choreography.

Finally, women bearing trays of fruit and packages of noodles present these offerings to Mr. Gnag Jin Lin, the Chairman of the temple, who dedicates them to Mazu with incense and prayers.

The entire performance is so beautiful that sometimes I actually forget to take pictures.  I have never before attended a birthday party nearly as grand.