KUALA TERENGGANU: Despite the advancement of modern times, centuries-old traditions like celebrating the birthday of the sacred Nine Emperor Gods, is never forgotten.
Thus, thousands of Taoist devotees began their nine days of abstinence and vegetarianism to usher their Lordships’ auspicious day at a furniture gallery turned into a place of worship at Bukit Tunggal here.
The worshippers, from all over Terengganu and neighbouring states, refer to the birthday celebration of the Gods as the Kiu Ong Tai Tay. The Nine Emperor Gods festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.
It is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Festival elder Kong Eng Tat, 79, who has led the rituals for 44 years, hosted the daily nightly prayers and chants here with the Chinese community from all over Terengganu.
Kong explained that a select few of the devotees had gone to the Tow Boo Keong Temple in Kota Baru to invite their patriot God – the seventh Emperor – and escort his Lordship along with the sacred urn filled with joss sticks to Bukit Tunggal to begin the prayers here.
“It is customary for the devotees to invite his Lordship to our village, after obtaining the Gods’ blessings to begin their journey to Kuala Terengganu.
“This is an annual ritual which we have been performing for decades,” said Kong at the initiation of the festival that was accompanied by a lion dance performance at the Perabut Bukit Tunggal furniture gallery.
Present were festival organising chairman Too Bo Cheong and Terengganu Buddhist Association president Wong Choon Kheng, who provided the complimentary vegetarian meals for devotees.
On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors.
“Since the arrival of the Gods is believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea shore or river bank to symbolise this belief.
“Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their Excellencies,” said Kong. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival.
During this period, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. “Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer.
“It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration. “The ninth day of the festival is its climax. A procession which draws scores of devotees sends the deities back home,” said Kong.
The Nine Emperor Gods are the nine sons of father Emperor Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan Jun and mother Big Dipper stars Do You Mu Yuan Jun, who is the registrar of life and death.
According to a the 35th generation leader of the Long Shan Men Taoist Sect priest Long Hua, honouring the Northern Dipper stars prolongs one’s life, prevents calamities, and absolves sins and past debts.
The Nine Emperors are formed by the seven stars of the Big Dipper of the north Ursa Major and two secondary stars.
-New Straits Times
