Devotees start the New Year by offering alms to monks

Buddhist monks receiving alms given by devotees at Wat Chaiya Mangalaram Temple in Burmah Lane, George Town.

NEW Year’s Day can be spent in many ways.

For some 500 people, the day was spent meaningfully by offering food items and angpows to monks at Wat Chaiya Mangalaram Temple in Burmah Lane, Penang.

The crowd gathered under more than 40 tents erected at the open space in front of the temple.

Devotees preparing food items to be given away to the monks at the temple. — Photos: GARY CHEN/The Star

They brought dry food items such as biscuits, bread, cereals, sugar, rice, instant coffee and bottled or boxed drinks.

Some also gave out angpows to the monks, who walked around the tents accepting the offerings from the devotees.

Spotted among the crowd was retiree Goy Li Chin, 60, who gave out cash packets to the monks.

Goy said she had practised the deed for more than 10 years.

“It is a good way to start the year as we get to offer alms to the monks.

“I found that cash packets are more practical gifts compared with food items,” she said when met at the temple on Monday.