A straw dragon, bristling with more than 7,000 joss sticks, moved through a haze of smoke and glowing embers as its 51.2m body swayed above the streets of Pandamaran New Village.
Crafted from rattan, rope, padi straw and wire, the “fire dragon” served as a centrepiece of the Heguang Festival organised by the Tian Bao Gong temple in Klang, Selangor.
Once the incense was lit and the dragon “awakened”, the beast set off from the temple grounds, weaving through three designated stops before being set ablaze in front of the temple.
Hoisted by 30 people at a time, the procession snaked along a 4.5km route through the village to the thunderous rhythm of drums and crackle of fireworks.
The dragon twisted and danced through the night, performing a ritual traditionally associated with driving away misfortune and ushering in prosperity.
The event marked the first fire dragon procession held in the state, drawing a crowd of over a thousand spectators to witness the rare spectacle.
The tradition traces its roots back to the Tai Hang fishing village in Hong Kong, where it was first staged in 1880 to ward off a plague.
