KEW ONG YEAH FESTIVAL-FLOAT PROCESSION 2017

Organising Committee Members

Again, once a year is time for vegetarian meals in conjunction with Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a Taoist celebration of the Gods birthday. 

In my home vicinity there is a makeshift temple set up to celebrate the festival in a rather grand scale with numerous temporary vegetarian food stalls along both sides of the road leading to the temple.

The area is full of activities throughout the nine days starting from 20 October 2017. Many can get to enjoy vegetarian food not necessarily for religious reasons.  Anyway, my family members have been observing vegetarian meals during the duration of the festival for almost 4 generations.  The main reason is because my family members are involved with the yearly send-off of the Nine Emperor God’s ‘Boat’ to the sea on the 9^th day night from our clan jetty [Ong Jetty, Penang].   Those involved have to be on vegetarian diet as a respect.

The Wooden Boat For Send-Off

If you like to try vegetarian food, do check it out HERE.  These are the numerous vegetarian dishes which I have prepared over the years.

Anyway, we always enjoy vegetarian meals during this time with very good appetite no matter how simple the dishes are.  The food tastes so tempting and satisfying, especially the curries and stir fry dishes with a combination of ingredients and simple seasonings.
This year, there was a special float procession organised by the temple today [2nd day of the ninth lunar calender]. There were numerous floats, deities in trance, lion dance, fireworks etc.  It is a lively event tonight with many spectators lining the road.

 

There will be another procession in conjunction with the celebration on the 9th day night where the boat will be sent off to sea after the procession

Apart from the above, Teochew puppet show performances are available on the last 3 days of the festival during daytime and night time.

TAI SHANG LAO ZUN [KHOON LUN TEMPLE]

This is the temple of Tai Shang Lao Zun  [aka Khoon Loon Temple, Taiping] where a grand celebration of the birthday of the 'Soo Kong' [this is how we addressed Tai Shang Lao Zun when offering prayers] is held annually on the 1st day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar.  One of the pioneers of the temple was my uncle Loh Kim Aun [my mom's 3rd brother in-law].  I remembered during those days for years before establishing this temple, much effort was put in to find land,  setting up a committee and collecting funds to make it possible.

Before this temple was set up, the worshipping of Tai Shang Lao Zun were held at some other places.  From young, I used to follow my grandmother travelling from Penang to Taiping, annually to offer prayers.  This is one of the reasons why I am very close to this uncle and his family from young until this day [already decades ago].  Eventhough, my uncle has passed on many years ago, we still practice what we have been doing all this while, as we are fully aware that we have been blessed.

The following photographs were taken during this year's trip.  I would like to record it here as reference. 

Entrance of the Main Hall [Teoh Say Hun Hall]

Altar for worshipping Jade Emperor

Above Photos show the Main Altar housing
 Tai Shang Lao Zun

A wide variety of food and prayer items prepared by the temple and devotees as offerings to Tai Shang Lao Zun.  The food  items will be served or given to devotees at the temple after prayers

Organizing Committee Members Chanting Prayers to Tai Shang Lao Zun at around 12 noon of the day

After prayers during the daytime, the temple will serve dinner during the evening to devotees who come in  droves [groups or families].