IPOH: The tradition of making tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) for the Winter Solstice Festival is slowly giving way to convenience as more people opt for ready-made versions from supermarkets.
Housewife Soon Ee Hoon, 62, said it is easier to cook packaged rice balls than to prepare them from scratch.
“Preparing the dough can be time-consuming. Instead of using artificial colouring, I’d use natural ingredients like carrot or pumpkin,” she said.
Soon said she stopped making tang yuan three years ago and now only needs to prepare the red bean soup to go with the rice balls.
“Since we don’t eat much, there’s no need to make; buying from supermarkets is simpler.
“Eating too many can also cause bloating, so we control our intake,” she added.
Administrative worker PY Wong, 65, echoed similar sentiments, citing time constraints as a factor in choosing ready-made tang yuan.
“My daughter and I are working and I also help take care of my two granddaughters, so buying is more convenient,” said Wong, who appreciates the variety of colours and fillings available in the packaged versions.
She said that nowadays, people eat tang yuan more as a formality than for enjoyment due to health reasons.
However, Wong plans to make the rice balls herself when her grandchildren, aged four and eight, are older.
“I want to teach them our tradition and make them together.”
In BATU GAJAH, residents of Papan gathered at their community centre yesterday for a hands-on tang yuan making activity in celebration of the Winter Solstice Festival.
Papan Rukun Tetangga chairman Leong Wai Fan said this was the third time the event was held.
“The celebration is not merely a communal gathering but also a way to preserve and pass on the rich traditions of Chinese culture, she said.
Leong said that as the elders demonstrated the art of making tang yuan, they also shared the meaning and origins of the festival, which symbolises a time for reunion and gratitude.
“It reminds people to cherish family and the present moment.
“Through hands-on participation, the younger generation can grasp the deeper significance of this event, allowing the tradition to live not just in books but also in our community,” she added.
Leong said the success of the event was due to mutual support among residents.
“Some contributed glutinous rice flour, some donated ingredients for the soup and others sponsored dinner expenses.
“Each small contribution has allowed everyone to enjoy a warm Winter Solstice meal as a community,” she added.
