Thanking their imperial saviour

4 Tortoise bun (Mi-Gu) symbolize longevity based on the long life span of a tortoise.

THE Hokkien community started their celebration of the Chinese New Year last night by offering prayers to the Jade Emperor God to commemorate his birthday.

Also referred to as Bai Tian Gong, which means praying to the Heaven God, the prayer ceremony is also to give thanks to the Jade Emperor who provided the Hokkiens protection from the attacks of the Japanese army who were out to slaughter them.

According to legend, the Hokkiens survived persecution in ancient China by seeking refuge in a sugarcane plantation during Chinese New Year for nine days.

On the ninth day which coincided with the Jade Emperor’s birthday, they emerged to find their enemies gone. They had been saved by the protective cover of the sugarcane stalks.

Ever since, the Hokkiens have regarded this date as symbolic to their survival.

A devotee for Bai Tian Gong prayer strapping the sugarcane that he purchased on his bicycle at Pudu market.

Coincidentally sugarcane is called kam chia in the Hokkien dialect which has a similar pronunciation to kam xia which means thank you.

Prayers began at 11pm yesterday, which was the eighth day of Chinese New Year, because according to the lunar calender, the day starts at 11pm.

“Devotees select sugarcane stalks that are straight and with thick circumference,” said Chop Aik Seng incense shop owner Ken Lee.

Sugarcanes are usually placed at both sides of the altar along with other offerings.

Pineapples are also used as offerings because in Hokkien it is called ong-lai which means “prosperity has come” for a prosperous year ahead.

Those who do not eat pineapples, settle for the decorative pineapples at the altar.

Both the sugarcane and pineapple must come in pairs as the Chinese believe that it brings good luck.

Devotees at Pudu market selecting pineapples which will be use for ‘Bai Tian Gong’ prayer.

Dragon joss sticks or incense sticks will be burnt during the prayers and it comes in different sizes depending on one’s home.

Usual offerings such as prosperity cake, red tortoise cake, tortoise bun, steamed glutinous rice and longevity peach bun are decorated with red or gold paper with Chinese wordings.

Some will also offer the traditional birthday food mee suah to the Jade Emperor.

A pile of joss papers called kim-cua will be folded into the shape of an ingot to be burnt while fireworks are lighted to wrap up the offering as well as to mark the beginning of the ninth day and the survival of the Hokkien people.