Paying homage to deities in Penang festival

Devotees carrying the ceremonial boat towards the sea off the Yeoh Jetty, where it will be set ablaze. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

SPURRED by a calling, Jessie Ten, 20, said she had no fear when a 6m-long metal road was pierced through her cheek during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival finale.

The hairstylist, originally from Pahang, now lives in Penang and the Hong Kong Street Tow Boh Keong Temple is her go-to place for prayers.

“Recently, I discovered that I can enter a trance-like state during prayers at the temple.

“This led me to want to do this during the last day of the festival,” she said at the temple in Cheong Fatt Tze Road (formerly Hong Kong Street).

Ten said to prepare herself for the trance state, she had to go through a cleanse period.

“For the past two weeks, I have been on a vegetarian diet, abstaining from anything with garlic, onions or dairy products.

“It is a must to abstain from alcohol and one must be calm at all times,” adding that she also volunteered at the temple for the previous nine days.

Ten bravely undergoing piercing during the procession to mark the last day of the festival.

Ten revealed that she had small skewers pierced through her arm last year, but this was the first time she was having her mouth pierced.

Chef Dragon Chiong, 33, said his reason for piercing his cheek and walking the stretch of the procession was to show gratitude for good health.

“Last year, I had a wound on my back that was infected.

“I needed multiple surgeries and decided that if I recovered, I would do this.

“I have made a full recovery and am healthy now.”

Chiong said he had been running and keeping fit in preparation for the festival.

“I have never done something like this, so I wanted to make sure I had the stamina to do it.”

Temple trustee Khoo Khay Hock said this year, 25 devotees have been pierced.

He said the two-hour procession took them from the temple to Yeoh Jetty in Weld Quay.

“There are more than 20 temple floats heading towards the jetty this year including one from our temple.

“Our float and procession begin in front of the temple and heading towards Lebuh Carna­von, Jalan Lim Chwee Leong, Lebuh Pantai, Gat Lebuh Chulia before reaching Yeoh Jetty.

“The ceremonial Emperor Boat that has been filled with prayer paraphernalia will be set ablaze in the middle of the sea, off the Yeoh Jetty.”

Khoo said this year, thousands turned up to participate in the procession.

“Many have come from all over the world to witness this festival as the celebration here is grand.”

Prior to the procession, devotees walked through a “Gate of Peace”, a symbolic archway or entrance, as part of the ritual to seek protection, peace and blessings from the deities.

Similar celebrations were held at other temples in the state including the Kuan Im See Temple in Jalan Burma and Tow Boo Kong Temple in Jalan Raja Uda.

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, observed by Taoists, is dedicated to the nine sons of Tou Mu, the Goddess of the North Star who is believed to control the Books of Life and Death.

Devotees believe the gods came through the waterway and processions are usually held from temples to the river or seashore as a symbolic gesture.

During the festival, devotees adhere to a vegetarian diet to purify their bodies and minds, seeking spiritual cleansing and alignment with the gods through abstaining from meat and impure substances.

The festival ended last Wednesday.