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.
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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)
