boon's log 4406.02: Week of festivities...

Just a few days after our Hindu friends celebrated the festival of lights (Deepavali) and our Muslim friends celebrated Hari Raya Aidilfitri (The festival marking the end of the fasting, Ramadhan month), our Chinese Buddhist friends / community in Penang (and most possibly, around the world) celebrated the Nine Emperor God Festival yesterday (actual day).

I decided to take my camera out to one of the Famous Nine Emperor God Temple along Burmah Road, Penang on Sunday. There weren't as many people as I expected it to be. Though I am not a person who condone to idol worshipping, but I am enthralled and attracted by the colors and the richness of the culture. As much as I know, it's a Chinese festival to celebrate the return of the nine Emperor Spirits from heaven to earth, who are worshipped as one deity - who represents health, wealth and prosperity. The festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. Anyway, here are some of the images that I managed to snap in the heavily-smoked-temple, from the burning of incense...




While I was there, I was not that entirely surprised to see that I was not the only one with a camera. I saw a couple of AngMoh ladies with Point&Shoot and SLRs running around taking photos inside the temple.




I tried not to take photographs of the idol-figurines, as I know the "worshippers" may not really like it. So I just took images of the surroundings. Inside the temple, beside being smoky, it was also hot(!). I guess it is also from the countless candles that are being lit. Also, there was a furnace that is situated INSIDE the temple. Man, was it hot in there.


Entrance to the Nine Emperor God Temple along Burmah Road

Behind the temple, there is an open space where the worshippers can "hang out" and take a break from the smoke and heat. it's amazingly comfy at the back. Here's an image of some good ol' friends just taking a breather...



Apart from being a much celebrated festival, the Nine Emperor God Festival is also a major attraction to the tourists as well. Unintentionally, it helping to rope in additional resources.

Well, after a long break for ~9 days, it was back to work this week and it was sure hard to get those lazy bones working again. Spent most of Monday cranking up the engine to get it going - I had to take up to 3 cups of double shots to get my brains to align to the real-world (!). Well, things seems to be catching up today. Hope that I can last through out the week...

boon out...