There was a grand precession at the start of the festival which could go for several days.[9] It was a colourful and joyous occasion for the people of Thebes.[10] The procession would be led by Amun,[11] from the East (rising sun, new life, the direction of the living) to the West (setting sun, land of the dead.)[12] A statue or picture of Amun, decorated with a broad collar and sun disk,[13] would be led by priests down the Nile in a ceremonial boat or barque.[14] This barque would then be placed in a Userhet, that was covered in gold and precious materials.[15] This Userhet would be followed by boats for Mut and Khonsu to form the Theban Triad.[16] The procession proceeded to the Temple of Million Years of the King where the townspeople would sacrifice food and drink as well as flowers to the flotilla of boats.[17] Great quantities of flowers would be presented,[18] as it is believed by the Egyptian culture that the flowers became filled with the essence of the deity.[19] Townspeople then took these flowers to their relatives' tombs to pay their respects and ensure the revival of the deceased's spirit.[20] They would drink and sleep on the deceased's tombs as different levels of consciousness blessed the dead and brought them closer to god.[21] Amun's shrine was brought into the Djoser-djoseru [22] to reaffirm the bond between the king of the gods and the king of the people.[23]