Happy Lunar New Year 2023

Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year (Jan 22nd 2023) and many of us are all geared up to usher in the Year of the Water Rabbit (癸卯).

 

Some of us may still be busy with last minute shopping whilst others are already back in their hometowns with their family for the customary reunion dinner tonight.

Technically it is still the Year of the Water Tiger (壬寅) as the first day of the Year of the Water Rabbit occurs on Li Chun (立春 - Beginning of Spring) which falls on February 4th.

 

 Wishing all my readers a Happy Lunar New Year!

Counting Down to Thaipusam 2023 - 49 More Days

As the year comes to an end, it is time to prepare for the coming year. Tomorrow (December 20th) marks the start of the 48 day fast (mandala viratham) for those who intend to carry kavadi (burden) for the coming Thaipusam (in February 2023).

In Malaysia, Thaipusam falls on February 5th 2023. Whilst the Pusam star in the month of Thai in 2023 reaches the highest point around 1.13pm on the 4th of February 2023, the festival is officially set for the following day.

This is because Thaipusam can only considered to begin after the Theertochavam ceremony of Lord Muruga's Vel (bathing of the divine spear) had been carried out and that ceremony can only be conducted in the morning. Hence Thaipusam officially falls on February 5th in 2023.

Carrying the kavadi (burden) is no easy feat and the preparation includes a 48 day fast. This fast or mandala viratham must be completed before the day of carrying the kavadi, and entails austerities like sleeping on the floor (no beds or soft bedding), taking only sattvic diet, taking only cold baths, abstaining from sex, and for men they will not shave or cut their hair in this period.

So today is 49 days to the actual day of Thaipusam in 2023 and we are all looking forward to the festival next year minus all the SOPs of the pandemic.

The Hill, the Mist and the Leaf Monkeys...

Penang Hill have always been close to my heart, ever since I first set foot on this hill station when I was about four or five years old. I remember enjoying the photo sessions by my dad with my mum and my brother at Bellevue Hotel, and loving the cool crisp air and the lovely flowers in the garden. On the other hand I also demonstrated this irrational fear of the misty and cold Summit Road during that first trip; maybe it was because at that age, I perceived that the foggy and misty road were swallowing up people who walked into it and cried when my parents wanted to take us for a walk along Summit Road.

 

Since then the love for the hill has grown  tremendously with the numerous hiking trips up the hill done with family or friends. Each and every hike to me is like an adventure with a whole new world opening up to you if you keep your eyes, nose and ears peeled, especially for someone who loves plants and birds.

Of late, I haven't had the opportunity to go up Penang Hill ever since the pandemic, until today. Despite not hiking but joining the weekend crowd on the funicular railway, it was indeed an eye-opening trip for me to see how many things up there have changed since the pandemic.

 

The weather was good, and the rolling mist adds to the allure and charm of the hill station. What caught my eye was at the abandoned quarters on the old Waterfall Road. The back end of the dilapidated quarters have now become the playground for a group of dusky leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus obscurus). I guess when humans move out, nature takes back.

 

One of the dusky leaf monkeys playing at the back of the abandoned quarters along the old
Waterfall Road.

I then went to the clearing by the abandoned Convalescent bungalow to enjoy the 'mossy forest' feel of Penang Hill. That area and the adjacent area now occupied by the Habitat used to be my favourite hang-out area when I am up there, just to get some peace of mind.

 

 

For me, the hill has changed a lot since my childhood, but I guess everything keeps evolving and moving forward, and all we can do is reminisce the past and enjoy the present!

 

Dumbells anyone???

Bypath C - love the mist.

A little repair is needed :-)

All in a day's work...

And So It Begins... Raising the Lantern Pole for Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022

The lantern pole has been successfully raised at Ampang Nine Emperor Gods Temple today at midday. With that it marks the start of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022 at Ampang.

Tonight the Nine Emperor Gods invitation procession will depart at 7.15pm. As usual the lion and dragon dances will commence earlier.

Ampang Is All Set For Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022

After what seemed like weeks of never ending clean-ups and touch-ups, Ampang Nine Emperor Gods temple is on the final leg to being ready for this year's Nine Emperor Gods festival.

 

Not surprising as this would be the first time after a two-year hiatus that the festival would be celebrated in a grand scale post COVID pandemic. Hence the temple management and team had spared no effort in ensuring that this year's festival will be smooth sailing and as grand as possible.

It must be exhausting as well as exhilarating for the people involved, for what needs to be dusted was dusted, and what needs to be painted had been painted. In past two weeks, the temple became a gathering space for familiar faces coming together for this festival, very much like a big family reunion.

 

So in this post, the pictures are dedicated to the familiar faces and familiar sights that herald the start of the festival at Ampang Nan Tian Gong Nine Emperor Gods Temple (安邦南天宫). And as tomorrow is the eve of the festival, we will eagerly await the raising of the lantern pole and the invitation of the Nine Emperor Gods.

As a reminder, the schedule for the Nine Emperor Gods Festival at Ampang reverts to what it was before the pandemic, with the only exception being that the dormitories are not open this year. The rest of the activities are as before as listed below (times are approximates and invitation ceremonies usually start earlier than when the entourage leaves the temple):

Important Dates for Ampang Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022

25th Sept (Eve of the Festival)  : Raising the Lantern Pole  ( ~ 11am)

                                                    : Invitation of Nine Emperor Gods (starts ~ 5pm)

27th Sept (Day 2): Invitation of Finance Minister (starts ~ 5pm)

28th Sept (Day 3): Feeding the Heavenly Armies ( ~ 2pm)

1st Oct (Day 6)    : Feeding the Heavenly Armies ( ~ 2pm)

3rd Oct (Day 8)   : Bridge Crossing ( ~ 8pm)

4th Oct (Day 9)   : Feeding the Heavenly Armies ( ~ 2pm)

                             : Fire Crossing ( ~ 8pm)                          

Early hours of the 10th day - Sending off Nine Emperor Gods

5th Oct (Day 10) : Taking down the Lantern Pole ( ~ 10am)

 

Yellow Lanterns and Yellow Curtains... 3 More Days to Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022

As the festival draws near (just 3 more days), one cannot help but noticing that there are two main colours that dominates the temple grounds and the vicinity of Nine Emperor Gods temples - yellow and red.

 

Yellow being the colour of the Emperor takes centre stage for now, whilst red being an auspicious colour is still present, but becomes secondary during this festival.

Yellow lanterns for Nine Emperor Gods Festival, as yellow is a royal colour befitting an Emperor.

Yellow lanterns, yellow curtains, yellow flags and yellow talismans... all that signify the coming of the Nine Emperor Gods. Here we take a peek at Jinjang Nine Emperor Gods temple and one can feel the power of yellow and how it signifies the Emperor Gods are coming...

Yellow curtains drawn over the inner chamber of the Jinjang Nine Emperor Gods temple for the
festival. The curtains keeps the Nine Emperor Gods from being sighted by all and sundry.

Red altar plaque against the yellow curtains of the inner chamber.

Yellow Nine Emperor Gods Festival flag at Jinjang.

Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022 Countdown - 5 More Days

5 more days to Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2022...

 

In Ampang, the anticipation for the festival is building up, as many are looking forward to the festival after a two-year hiatus.