Offering the Kitchen God a sweet deal for good health

Teh Khoon Hock, 48 (right), with his mother Ooi Ah Eng, 73 (left), paying homage to the Kitchen God at their home in Ayer Itam, Penang. ( February 03, 2024 ) — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The sweet, sticky glutinous rice cakes are a must as an offering to Zhao Jun for as the belief goes, to make sure this Kitchen God has only good things about the household to report to the Jade Emperor.

The Chinese community believes that the deity has a “direct line” to the ruler of heaven and on the 24th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar, Zhao Jun will return from earth to report on everything you and your family have done in the past year.