Families observe Qing Ming early

Paying respects: Ang (in gray) with her parents at the graves of their ancestors after missing the event for the past three years at the Batu Lanchang cemetery in Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Families observing the Qing Ming festival have started visiting cemeteries and columbariums for the annual tomb clean-up and remembrance of the departed.

Knowing that these places tend to be packed on weekends leading up to the actual day, which falls on April 5 this year, many went on weekdays to pay respects.