Paper dragon boat, King of Hades effigy set alight at Air Itam temple
A LARGE Say Hong Chun (paper dragon boat) and Tai Su Yeah (Hades) effigy were set alight during Sian Chye Tong Temple’s Cheow Thor (filial piety) celebration.
The fiery finale at Hye Keat Estate in Air Itam, Penang, was witnessed by temple members and devotees.
It took volunteers more than a month to build the 5m-long boat made of bamboo, cardboard and 6,000 ong seng jee (pieces of joss paper with Buddhist sutras) folded into lotus leaves, flowers and dragon scales.
Temple youth chairman Loh Choon Teik said the boat symbolised Buddha’s efforts to transport wandering souls to the Pure Land for repentance and rebirth.
“On the final day, monks and nuns pray and chant all day before placing paper tablets and lotuses in the boat for burning.
“The Say Hong Chun, the only one of its kind in Penang, was designed by me and other members.
“It is set alight to enable wandering souls to cross to a better place,” he said.
According to folklore, Tai Su Yeah supervises spirits during the Hungry Ghost Festival.
His 4m-high effigy made of joss paper was burnt with the boat to mark the close of the month-long Cheow Thor celebration.
The seventh lunar month, which falls between late August and Sept 21 this year, is when the Gates of Hell open for spirits to roam the mortal world.
The Cheow Thor ceremony is held to pacify and help the spirits find peace.
