Kek Lok Si Temple in Ayer Itam is set to mesmerise visitors with its dazzling display of lights for Chinese New Year. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
PENANG is set to be transformed into a vibrant destination this Chinese New Year, with an exciting lineup of events taking place across the island and mainland.
The celebrations will kick off tomorrow with a grand open house by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at Setia Spice Arena from 2pm to 4pm.
Expect a feast for the senses, as around 10,000 visitors will be able to delight in an array of appetising food along with captivating cultural performances.
ALSO READ:
- Lane full of blessings
- China students love CNY celebrations in Malaysia
- Gua Musang temple lanterns foster togetherness
One of the most eagerly awaited events is Penang Chinese New Year Celebration, or Miaohui (Temple Festival), taking place on Saturday from 4pm to 11pm at George Town’s heritage enclave.
Twelve streets will be closed to traffic due to the festival, now in its 26th year, as the area will be transformed into a lively space for exhibitions, performances and activities.
More than 20 clan houses will be opening their doors to welcome an estimated 200,000 attendees, from near and far, for the festivities.
Festival-goers enjoying the special ‘Blessing of the Twin Dragons’ routine performed by Penang Chinese Girls High School (PCGHS) kindergarten dragon dance troupe during the 2024 Penang Chinese New Year Celebration or Miaohui in George Town. — Filepic
Themed “Penang Lang, Let’s Celebrate!”, the event highlights the spirit of togetherness and community.
On Feb 2, the Penang Snake Temple will host its iconic Flame Watching Festival from 8pm to midnight.
Here, visitors can witness a special snake dance performance before the traditional fire-watching ceremony kicks off.
The event is a unique way to usher in the Year of the Snake, drawing both locals and tourists to Hock Hin Keong (Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple) in Bayan Lepas.
ALSO READ:
The celebrations will continue with the annual Jade Emperor’s Birthday (Pai Thnee Kong) at the clan jetties along Weld Quay on Feb 5 from 6pm to midnight.
The event is of great significance to the Hokkien community and is considered even more important than the first day of Chinese New Year.
Elaborate offerings of roast pigs, sugarcane, pineapples and oranges will be placed on altars along Weld Quay.
Snake dance performance before the flame-watching ceremony during the Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple CNY Culture Celebration at the Snake Temple in Bayan Lepas. — Filepic
The significance of sugarcane is particularly poignant, symbolising the community’s gratitude for protection during historical hardships.
Similar celebrations have been planned on the mainland including at Guan Yin Dou Mu Gong Temple in Butterworth.
In Bukit Mertajam, the Jong Hwa Lion Dance Troupe Seberang Perai Penang will take their performance to unprecedented levels by featuring four lion dancers atop a towering structure standing at least 13.4m tall and crafted from more than 260 red offering tables.
The awe-inspiring display on Feb 5 promises to be a highlight, drawing crowds to witness their breathtaking skill and dance prowess which is steeped in tradition.
The Butterworth edition of Miaohui is slated for Feb 8 from 6pm at Guan Yin Dou Mu Gong Temple.
To predict Penang’s future, the annual Chneah Hoay ceremony (flame-watching) on Feb 11 will take place at the Hai Choo Soo Temple in Tanjung Tokong from 11pm to midnight.
The Tua Pek Kong statue will be ceremoniously transported from Poh Hock Seah Temple in Armenian Street to the seaside Hai Choo Soo Temple, where devotees will gather to offer prayers.
As the tide rises in the bay fronting the temple, typically around 11pm, the highly anticipated flame-watching ritual will begin.
During this sacred ceremony, the deity’s urn will be fanned, and the flames it produces are closely observed.
The intensity and direction of the fire are believed to serve as a divine forecast, offering a symbolic glimpse into Penang’s economic prospects for the coming year.
Acrobatic lion dance on stilts performances are the annual highlight of Pai Thee Kong or Jade Emperor’s Birthday celebrations at Chew Jetty in Weld Quay. — Filepic
This ritual, deeply rooted in tradition, offers both a spiritual and cultural reflection of the community’s hopes and aspirations for the future.
For the Chap Goh Meh celebrations, which typically mark the 15th day of Lunar New Year and end of the festival, a celebration will be held near SJKC Keng Koon in Bukit Tambun from 6pm to 10pm on Feb 12.
As for the state-level Chap Goh Meh celebration, it will be held at the Esplanade, George Town, on Feb 14 from 5pm to 11pm.
Also known as the “Chinese Valentine’s Day,” the event will feature a variety of activities.
Visitors can expect cultural performances, food stalls, arts and crafts activities, including the traditional mandarin orange tossing ceremony.
The two-day postponement from its original day was done to alleviate traffic congestion and make way for Thaipusam.
The Hindu celebration on Feb 11 will see the golden and silver chariots departing on Feb 10 and returning on Feb 12 to their respective temples.
Kek Lok Si Temple in Ayer Itam, the largest Buddhist temple in the country, will once again dazzle visitors with its vibrant lighting ceremony for Chinese New Year. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Kek Lok Si Temple
The spectacular lighting of Kek Lok Si Temple has kicked off the festive season, turning Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple into a fairyland of colourful LED lights.
Thousands of visitors gathered for the lighting ceremony last Saturday, marvelling at the illuminated roofs, arches, pillars and walls of the temple.
Among the crowd were software engineer Aung Kyaw Htun, 34, from Myanmar, who was visiting the temple for the first time.
“The way the entire temple is lit up is magical and it feels very welcoming for Chinese New Year,” he said.
Photographer Li Wei, 27, from China, was also captivated by the temple’s vibrant display.
“Kek Lok Si is truly unique during Chinese New Year.
“The colours and the lights are vibrant, and the atmosphere is filled with joy.
“As a photographer, this place is a dream,” she said.
During the lighting ceremony, Penang social development, welfare and non-religious committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, representing the chief minister, handed over RM240,000 to the temple.
Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying also contributed RM100,000.
After a dinner and prayer session, the evening culminated in a breathtaking 10-minute fireworks show that lit up the sky, signalling the start of the Chinese New Year festivities.
The lights will remain on each evening until Feb 12.
After that, only certain parts of the temple will be lit up until Feb 24.
Colourful new year
State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Penang was a destination renowned for its vibrant traditions, rich culture and infectious festive spirit.
“Penang has long been the heart of Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia.
“Our island and mainland come alive with colourful traditions, captivating festivities and a sense of togetherness that fill the air throughout the Lunar New Year celebrations.
“From the first day to the last, Penang offers something special almost every single day, ensuring that the celebration never truly ends.”
Wong highlighted this year’s Chap Goh Meh celebration theme, “Reminiscing Love”, reflecting Penang’s multicultural spirit and the universal language of love.
The event, scheduled for Feb 14, will coincide with Valentine’s Day, thus creating a unique fusion of cultural celebrations.
“This year, the Chap Goh Meh celebration beautifully aligns with Valentine’s Day, blending East and West, tradition and modernity and resulting in a joyful celebration that showcases our multicultural harmony,” he said.
Wong also points to the special cultural overlap this year, as Thaipusam falls during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
“This convergence offers visitors a chance to experience vibrant Thaipusam processions and partake in Chinese New Year festivities – reflecting the unity and diversity in Malaysia,” he said, emphasising the strength and beauty of Malaysia’s multicultural identity.
