GEORGE TOWN: For Chew Kean Kok and his family, preparations for the Jade Emperor’s birthday are more than a ritual – they are a tribute steeped in generations of tradition and devotion.
Kean Kok, who runs a bakery that specialises in traditional Chinese delights, painstakingly prepared an elaborate spread fit for the Heavenly Ruler.
Trays of kuih angku in assorted shapes and fillings, fa gao (steamed prosperity cake), glutinous rice topped with eggs and red dates, five types of fruits and carefully arranged prayer offerings, were all placed along a household altar at the Chew Jetty here on Tuesday.
Kean Kok, 57, explained that it has been a practice to have such a spread since his grandfather’s time.
“Every family at the jetty contributes something to the altar as it is a big deal to us. Our Hokkien community considers the Jade Emperor’s Birthday celebration bigger than Chinese New Year.
“It is our Hokkien community’s new year,” he said when met at his house at the jetty.
Devotees crowded Pengkalan Weld, where Chew Jetty is located, on Tuesday – the eighth day of the Chinese New Year.
They prayed for health and prosperity ahead of the Heavenly Ruler’s birthday, observed on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, which was yesterday.
“This year, we prayed for continuous good health and safety,” said Kean Kok.
He said the Jade Emperor’s birthday is a family affair that no one would want to miss.
“You may miss out on the Chinese New Year reunion dinner, but it is not an option to be absent from the Jade Emperor’s birthday,” he said.
This year, about 10 family members – including his brother who travelled from Singapore – gathered to mark the auspicious occasion.
“We always celebrate together here every year,” he said.
Rehabilitation counsellor Chew Kai Xin, 27, flew in from Australia.
The family house, where her grandmother still lives, has stood for over a century. Each year, more than 30 relatives would converge there.
“This celebration matters to us. We make the effort every year to gather and prepare the offerings together,” Kai Xin said.
This year’s offerings included a platter of mi ku – steamed buns shaped into turtles, fish, fruits and even crabs.
There were also roasted meats and five types of fruit – red dragon fruit, apple, orange, pineapple and ciku – chosen for their vibrant colours and auspicious meaning.
Large pineapples crafted from gold joss paper, one adorned with gold ingots, stood out among the display.
“We may not make everything ourselves, but we spend time sourcing each item carefully. It’s a big deal for us,” she added.
The sprawling altar outside the Chao Yuan Kong temple was the focal point at Chew Jetty as thousands of Hokkien devotees gathered there to mark the Jade Emperor’s birthday.
The 119-year-old celebration, held annually at George Town’s clan jetties, turned the area into a hive of activity.
Cultural performances drew crowds, a lion dance on stilts thrilled onlookers. Fireworks lit up the sky as midnight approached.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow thanked Chew Jetty and the other clan jetties for sustaining the tradition.
“As a state, we support the cultural development of all religions. Through this event, we showcase Penang’s multicultural spirit and social harmony, and allow more people to understand Hokkien culture and customs,” he said.
