We noticed a number of Taoist temples in Penang last week celebrating a festival that required a vegetarian diet for 9 days. Crowds gathered in the evenings and food stalls were very busy.
from our trishawIt seems they were also celebrating the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, as does the local Hougang Tou Mu Temple on Serangoon Rd. This festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. The Nine Emperor Gods are spiritual mediums believed to dwell in the stars in heaven and to travel through the waterways, so ritual processions are held from temples to the seashore or river in celebration. The festival begins with the welcoming of the gods into the temple where they are to be worshipped for nine days and entertained with opera performances. It ends when the gods are sent off on the ninth day. Followers are expected to abstain from meat in order to purify their bodies throughout the celebration.
Apparently observance of this festival is declining outside China but that wasn't apparent as I walked home on Sunday evening. A huge procession of more than 18 vehicles, many decked out in lights and loud music made its way from the temple that was bursting at the seams with devotees respecting their Emperor Gods. The Hougang Tou Mu Temple happens to be the oldest Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Singapore. The procession to the Serangoon River was to welcome the deities. I watched devotees carry statues of accompanying gods and the sacred urn from the temple through the front gates and load each, with much exaggerated swinging and swaying, onto the vehicles before climbing aboard themselves. Below are images of just one God being transported.
After the ninth god, followed something quite different so I suspect it was the temple urn.
It took at least an hour to send them all off and just when I thought it was all over I was surprised to see a number of deity guardians appear ready to form a welcoming party for another arrival. They were quite frightening to the uninitiated. It had been a long day and I left them to it.
Meanwhile Eric joined a number of other MAE colleagues at a social gathering after work at Sque Bar in Clarke Quay. We have finished 2 weeks already of term 4. I was just too tired to make it, after seeing the procession I wandered on home and nested on the couch.
On Monday Eric had his regular 6 monthly check up so I was the only one to join the walkers. Luke called while I was on the train to tell us he has won the manager's job at the new Superstore opening in Darwin. We are not sure of all the details yet but it will open in about a month in the Mitchell Centre. He has bought a motorbike and goes for his licence on Friday. He's very excited and why not, this is going to be a more interactive experience for the customers and he seems to have just the right skill-set for the job.
We walked one of my favourite routes; The Southern Ridges from Kent Ridge to Harbourfront. Peter was also missing, visiting his son Tim in Korea. Maria brought her sister and nieces from Perth which boosted our numbers and lowered the average age considerably. The old girls kept up though.
In the evening we had Richard and Kathy over for dinner. Richard recently returned from Aust with a leg of lamb so we roasted it in our bench-top oven and I am pleased to say it was delicious.
And in all of that, some would say I have omitted the most important event of the year; the AFL Grand Final. Working all weekend means we don't get an opportunity to see it but I was very happy for big brother Col who is a keen Hawks supporter. No doubt we will hear a very unbiased match round up at the wedding in a few weeks. We were invited to watch a replay on Tuesday at Michael and Deb's but it had to be cancelled as it appears he has let his membership to the cable channel slip.
It took at least an hour to send them all off and just when I thought it was all over I was surprised to see a number of deity guardians appear ready to form a welcoming party for another arrival. They were quite frightening to the uninitiated. It had been a long day and I left them to it.
Meanwhile Eric joined a number of other MAE colleagues at a social gathering after work at Sque Bar in Clarke Quay. We have finished 2 weeks already of term 4. I was just too tired to make it, after seeing the procession I wandered on home and nested on the couch.
On Monday Eric had his regular 6 monthly check up so I was the only one to join the walkers. Luke called while I was on the train to tell us he has won the manager's job at the new Superstore opening in Darwin. We are not sure of all the details yet but it will open in about a month in the Mitchell Centre. He has bought a motorbike and goes for his licence on Friday. He's very excited and why not, this is going to be a more interactive experience for the customers and he seems to have just the right skill-set for the job.
We walked one of my favourite routes; The Southern Ridges from Kent Ridge to Harbourfront. Peter was also missing, visiting his son Tim in Korea. Maria brought her sister and nieces from Perth which boosted our numbers and lowered the average age considerably. The old girls kept up though.
In the evening we had Richard and Kathy over for dinner. Richard recently returned from Aust with a leg of lamb so we roasted it in our bench-top oven and I am pleased to say it was delicious.
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