GEORGE TOWN: Several columbariums here are bustling with families paying homage to their ancestors and loved ones for the Winter Solstice Festival.
At Batu Gantong columbarium, families could be seen offering tang yuan (glutinous rice balls served in sweet syrup) alongside other traditional offerings in a ritual that underscores the cultural significance of family unity.
The festival, better known as Dong Zhi, is when families come together and honour the departed.
According to Chinese beliefs, the round shape of the tang yuan, a key offering during this period, symbolises completeness and wholeness.
In ancient times, the festival used to mark the time to store their harvest and prepare for winter.
Today, it has become a time for thanksgiving as Chinese families reflect on the blessings of the past year and pray for prosperity in the next.
The local Chinese community celebrates the festival by making the tang yuan that comes with a variety of fillings such as red bean, peanut or sesame paste, served with plain or ginger syrup.
