RODDY LAY KEONG - CHIN CHU CEREMONY AT ONG KONGSI, PENANG

Chin Chu as we called it in Hokkien meaning a ceremony to place a tablet [sin chu] of the deceased in temples or clan houses [kongsi].  It is believed that when this is done for the deceased, the spirit would not be roaming the streets and there is a place where the family members can offer prayers there if they are not praying at home.  Even if his younger generations to come are to busy or forgotten to offer prayers at home, the spirit still has a place to go where there are food offerings and prayers during festive occasions such as Cheng Beng [Chinese All Souls Day], Hungry Ghost Festival, Winter Solstice or Chinese New Year eve.  This practice is quite common among Penang Chinese people especially those who have clan houses according to their surnames.  

Since my late brother Roddy was a lifetime member of the Ong Kongsi [clan house] in Penang, it is only appropriate that we place a tablet at the Ong Kongsi ancestral altar for him.  We also did the same for our grandparents and parents.  In this way, we believe that he would be with our grandparents and our father at the same place.

The ceremony was held only twice a year at the Ong Kongsi where there will be grand ceremony with  food offerings and prayers conducted by members [people having the same surname] of the clan house.  For this year, it was held on 12th day of 2nd lunar month and the next will be on 1st day of the ninth lunar month. 

This ceremony for Roddy was attended by his immediate family, brothers, sisters and nephews. 
With the his tablet interned in this Ong ancestral altar at Ong Kongsi [clan house] at Penang Road, Penang, it is forever.  His family and future generations can always visit this place to pay their respect to him anytime and especially during Chinese festive times or on the days mentioned above.

"REST IN PEACE

 LAY KEONG"

Weekly Prayers Held For Roddy Ong Lay Keong

Life can sometimes be so sweet and at times so cruel, it seems  like 'now you see it, now you don't'.  This minute you can be around [seen and felt] and next minute you no longer exists.

1st 7th day Prayers [31-12-2013] at the Relau Chinese Cemetery attended by immediate family members.

3rd Week 7th Day - Prayers [14-1-2014] at family house.  Family still grieving and very sad over his passing.  Most of the food offered were his favourite. 

The weekly prayers for Lay Keong were not as elaborate as that of my late Papa where there were  prayers for  1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th week except for the 6th week.  On the 7th day of sixth week, there was no prayers.  It was said that the deceased's maids in the netherworld will prepare food for him.

5th Week 7th day Prayers - omitted as he had no sons.

7th Week 49th day - Prayers [11-2-2014] at family house.   Times flies, seems not too long he left us but it's already 7 weeks long [49 days] had passed since we last seen him.  Of course, the family is still grieving even though we are trying our best to accept the fact.  But it still hurts and painful.  I prayed that he quickly find his way to be re-born into the family as soon as possible.  Is it possible, only God knows but that's my hope.  

Apart from the regular dishes prepared for prayers, I prepared the 'siew yoke' and 'pak cham kai' because it was just a few days after Jade Emperor's Birthday and you can find roasted pork at the wet market.  

Below is the array of food offered on this day.  We also burnt some joss papers and his clothes for him after prayers.  We are keeping some of his clothes for memory sake.

The next prayer service will be on the 100th day of his passing which will be held in the house and at his grave where his 'feng shui tomb' will be ready.