Comtemplation in the Market...

A fresh seafood seller seemed to be deep in thought whilst waiting for customers to come by at Psar Chas in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This photo was taken in 2015... and with the current pandemic, I too sometimes wonder if we can ever be the same again like in pre-Covid times.

Interestingly, the word for market in Khmer is Psar... which is probably a derivative from Champa or the Malay word Pasar, which came from the Persian word Bazar. The influence of East - West trade on the word usage for market is indeed interesting.

Nine Emperor Gods Festival: Bizarre Body Piercings When the Spirits Descend...

Counting down to Nine Emperor Gods Festival which is only 13 days away (or 12 days to the eve of the festival), let us talk about one of the more intriguing visual aspects of this celebration.

Besides the yellow flags and vegetarian stalls, one of the many iconic images associated with the upcoming Nine Emperor Gods Festival you see on the internet are those of bizarre and extreme body piercings done by Thai spirit mediums (Mah Songs). Not only are the piercings large, the items used leaves little to the imagination and are often unreligious but consist of mundane household objects... bicycle, step-ladders, stand-fan, blades, swords, etc.

A spirit medium with a big rod through his cheek connected to a small push bike during the
2019 Kuala Pilah Nine Emperor Gods Festival procession

Whilst we seldom see such bizarre practices here in Malaysia, there are a few local mediums that do it, and there are also temples whom 'employ' mediums from Southern Thailand for this festival as a means to attract devotees and visitors to flock to their temple to witness this spectacle, as in the case of Kuala Pilah Nine Emperor Gods Temple.

Medium with lucky charms hanging from his cheek piercing. whilst the rod may look short and
unimposing for now, they will connect huge flages to both ends of the rod for the procession
through the town later on.

So why do these mediums carry out such bizarre piercings? Well, some believe that by inflicting pain or mutilating themselves, the gods that possesses the spirit medium are transferring bad luck and averting misfortune from the devotees onto themselves.

Piercing the cheek of a medium in trance....

Also the blood that flows from self-inflicted wounds are believed to be 'divine' blood as it flows from a body that carries the divine spirit, and thus is used to make 'blood talismans' i.e. talisman with blood from self-mutilations smeared onto them. That is why you see in the pictures here the mediums have talismans and lucky objects hanging from their piercings as to empower them with this 'divine' power.

Having a metal bar pierced through your cheek isn't a typical
job for the faint-heated or the uninitiated.

Next post in this countdown to Nine Emperor Gods 2020 series:

• Fire and Purification - The Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Previous post in this countdown to Nine Emperor Gods 2020 series:

• Will the Show Still Go On after Covid-19?? - Countdown to Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2020

Looking Back at Familiar Faces in Sacred Spaces - Countdown to Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2020

As a continuation to my series of Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2020 countdown posts (click to see previous post - Nine Emperor Gods (九皇大帝) Festival 2020: What to Expect This Year??), we take a look at a familiar face in a sacred space from last year's (2019) Nine Emperor Gods Festival, knowing that many familiar faces would not be seen in this year's Nine Emperor Gods celebration, either due to cancelled celebration or they are socially distanced and safe behind face mask; the unfortunate outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A familiar face of Ampang's Nine Emperor Gods temple during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is
Ah Boon sifu, shown here in trance during the 2019 Nine Emperor Gods Festival.

Next post in this countdown series to Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2020

• Will the Show Still Go On after Covid-19?? - Countdown to Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2020
  

If you need a quick introduction to what Nine Emperor Gods (九皇爷) and this festivals is all about, you can read about it in my brief introductory post about Nine Emperor Gods:

• Nine Emperor Gods Festival - All About The What, Who, Why, When and Where of this Festival 

Faces of Hungry Ghost Festival - the Taoist Priest

Featured here is a Taoist priest conducting a prayer at a Hungry Ghost Festival in Malaysia, whereby food and even coins on the altar are distributed and tossed to the devotees after being offered to the spirits. And no, he didn't throw the pineapple, but merely passed it to one of the devotees standing nearby. I was hoping he would...

Taoist priest on the altar performing prayers to feed the hungry ghost during Ghost Month
Celebration at Sunway Mentari.

In some Cantonese speaking areas, Taoist priest are sometimes called Nam Mo Lou (喃嘸佬 - Jyut Ping: Naam4 Mou4 Lou2). This is a colloquial term used for a Taoist priest, especially one who performs prayers for the salvation of the deceased or spirits. The term is in fact incorrect as the origin of the phrase Nam Mo is a term from Buddhist text (Na Mo - meaning homage to}, whereas those priest are Taoist. However in many Asian and South East Asian countries, they are colloquially being referred to as such despite being a misnomer (and also disrespectful) for their profession.

 

Women of Nepal

The streets of Kathmandu and more so in the surrounding suburbs can be very rewarding to the photographer, especially if you love catching street and environmental portraits. As you walk along the area, you will notice quite a few locals work at their doorstep, around the village square or the water source for the town. The women folk featured in this album were weaving carpet or spinning yarn at their doorstep, or in grandma's case, she was taking a break from a hard day's work. Their faces show it all; the hardship, the toil and joys of their life are all etched in their faces...

Click here to see the individual picture within the album (Women of Nepal) in my facebook page...

Faces of Nine Emperor Gods Festival Jinjang - the Priest

The Taoist priest is an indispensable person during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Like many Taoist and syncretic Chinese religious festivals, the priest is responsible for all the consecration ceremonies of the ritual space and altar, which is done with the help of his assistants and accompanying musicians.

 

Despite his age, Mr Lim's movements are still full of energy and his voice always thundering above the cacophony of the drums, cymbals and bells during prayer sessions. If you visit Jinjang Nine Emperor Gods Festival, do try to catch a glimpse of the prayer ceremonies led by him, you will be amazed at his vitality and vocal power.

 

  

Weaving by the Sea

A man weaves coconut fronds into a container on the fort wall of Galle, Sri Lanka. He uses the sheath of the coconut flower, cut into long strips, as a binding twine to hold the weaving together.

Weaving by the sea - with a view of the seafront at Galle.

Using strips of the coconut spathe (flower stalk sheath) as twine to bind the basket.

Everlasting Flower Lady of Ooty

The everlasting flower lady of Ooty, India... reminds you of Eliza Doolittle. She looks like she could do with a break in her life; the frown plus the lines on her face that are deeply etched makes you wonder how is life treating her (read more about Ooty here - Ooty Queen of Hill Stations).

I Feel Pretty...

Feeling pretty in Psar Chaa, Siem Reap

Shot at 38mm, ƒ/6.3, 1/40s,  ISO 1000 with a Nikon D5300 and Tamron AF 18-270mm
F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD lens.

Faces of Nepal - The Shopkeeper

Mr Risal manages a secondhand bookstore called Paradise Book Shop on JP Road in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. With his Rudraksha rosary beads around his neck, his grey beard and calm expression, one cannot help but to notice him as one walks down the busy street in this part of town. He does have the countenance of a holy man and very much reminds me of Rajneesh Osho in a nice way.

Mr Risal keeping watch of his Paradise... Paradise Book Shop.

Scenes from Kashmir - Row row row your boat...

The ladies around Lake Dal, Srinagar must have strong arms as boats are a daily means of commute for their children to and from school. This lady is no different and by the way she deftly controls the raft through the narrow canals is more than a clear sign that she has done it for years, if not since childhood.

Row, row, row your boat...

Faces of Kashmir - The Fire-Pot Man

During the colder months in Indian-administered Kashmir, men and women wear long wollen cloaks called Pheran to keep them warm by also carrying their personal charcoal heater in the form a pot in a wicker basket called Kangri. This pot holds about 250grams of charcoal keeps the owner cozy and warm, and also makes Kashmiri women look as if they are pregnant (by virtue of having their hands and pot under their cloak).

In Pahalgam, you go to this man to get your charcoal refill. His wife and him work hard to fill and tamp in your Kangri with charcoal that is available from his shop all day long.

See this post as well regarding the Kangri in Kashmir - of Kangri pots, Pheran cloaks, and the men and women who use them.

Faces of Kashmir - Gulmarg Sleigh Puller

Yes, in Gulmarg Kashmir, they use human power to get tourist on sleigh across the snow fields to the cable car station. He was pulling my sleigh and took a break as the rest were far far behind... Looks like I am not that heavy. Even so, he was huffing and chuffing away, not an easy job.

Faces of Nepal - The Souvenir Seller

The trinket/souvenir seller in Kathmandu Durbar Square... the hopeful look of making a sale for
the day.

Ampang Nine Emperor Gods Festival - What We Love About The Festival No. 3

Q: What do we love about Ampang Nine Emperor Gods Festival?
A: Friendly faces everywhere! 

Everywhere you turn, there is a friendly,
familiar face that greets you

Nine Emperor Gods Festival Countdown - 3 More Days

Q: When is usually the best time to visit this festival

A: If you want to see the crowd, people and activities, night time are usually the best, or whenever they have specific prayers or a procession. The timing for these activities will differ from temple to temple, and it is best to find out from the temple or their webpage/Facebook.

3 MORE DAYS

Nine Emperor Gods Festival Countdown - 4 More Days

Q:Why does he go prancing about around the temple and dancing on the stage?

A: The spirit medium is possessed by the Nine Emperor God, and he goes around inspecting and blessing the grounds of the temple to ensure all is well. And yes, he does have some pretty awesome moves; Heaven must have a dance club that really rocks.

4 MORE DAYS

Nine Emperor Gods Festival Countdown - 7 More Days

Q: What do the devotees do during the festival?

A: In a nutshell; Eat, Sleep, Pray. They go on a strict bland vegetarian diet, some move into rooms/dorms within the temple for the entire 9 days of the festival and pray several times a day to purify themselves and obtain the blessings of the Nine Emperor Gods

7 MORE DAYS
 

Nine Emperor Gods Festival Countdown - 8 More Days

Q: Where can you find the Nine Emperor Gods Festival?

A: The festival is associated with the South-East Asia Chinese diaspora, hence the celebration can be found in certain parts of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and certain parts of Indonesia.

8 MORE DAYS

Puffing Away

Power vaping???? 35mm, f/9, 1/200s, ISO 800

A Newari man in Khokana village on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal smoking a traditional bong/pipe. The village is a living museum, and despite showing damage from the 2015 quake, the people are still living in those traditional houses in the village.