Colourful celebration: Devotees offering items such as floral water, begonia powder and folded paper flowers to Zhu Sheng Ma, the Mother of Birth and Fertility, as well as to the Seven Sisters, at Seng Hong Beow Temple in George Town. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: The annual Qixi festival saw thousands converging at Seng Hong Beow Temple here to celebrate the cultural tradition of searching for true love and soulmates.
Devotees offered floral water, begonia powder, folded paper flowers and many other items to Zhu Sheng Ma, the Mother of Birth and Fertility, as well as to the Seven Sisters (the Emperor of Heaven’s seven daughters) at the temple yesterday.
Among them was operations manager Joel Hee, 27, who wanted to express his gratitude for having found his wife.
“My grandmother first brought me here about 10 years ago and within a year, I met a lady with whom I fell in love and am now married to.
“Since then, I’ve been returning every year to offer my prayers and give my thanks. I hope that my family will stay healthy as always,” said Hee, who was there with his younger brother.
Community service volunteer Charlene Ong, 28, expressed a wish for an even better bond with her loved ones.
“Since I’ve found my love partner and am surrounded by family members, I wish the best for their well-being,” she said.
For mother Ong Cheng Wen, 26, who was accompanied by her husband and three-year-old son, she prayed for development in her career as an online marketer and for her family to continue their love together.
“I’ve been coming to pray for the past seven years and have been blessed with a family.
“Being a housewife and online trader, I wished to improve myself and for my family to grow,” said Ong.
The Qixi festival, also known as the Qiqiao festival, is a Chinese celebration of romantic love, often considered the traditional Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day.
It takes place on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month and honours the annual meeting of the mythological lovers Zhinu, the weaver girl, and Niulang, the cowherd.
Being among China’s longest-standing traditions, this festival has been celebrated since the Han dynasty and is rooted in a legend over 2,600 years old.
The festival is also referred to as the Double Seventh festival, the Night of Sevens, or the Magpie festival.
Many couples time their wedding to coincide with the festival, believing that tying the knot during this auspicious time will bring lots of luck.
