Temple ceremony to forecast year ahead
Lim (centre) and temple committee members promoting the fire-watching ceremony this Wednesday which will also see other festive activities at Hock Hin Keong in Bayan Lepas.
A host of activities will be held during the annual flame-watching ceremony at Hock Hin Keong (Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple) in Bayan Lepas on Feb 14.
Among them are appearances from the God of Prosperity, stilt walkers and dragon mascots as well as various exhibitions and distribution of mandarin oranges along the street outside the temple.
Temple chairman Datuk Lim Gim Hin said the event would be held from 8pm to midnight, with the highlight being the annual flame-watching ceremony, scheduled for 11.30pm.
“We will kick off the event with a lion and dragon dance performance at 8.30pm, followed by a traditional acrobatic lion dance performance at 10pm and snake dance with drum performance at 11pm.
“After the fire-watching at 11.30pm, there will be a fireworks show ending the celebration at midnight,” he said during a press conference at the temple.
Lim added that the area around the temple had been decorated with red lanterns.
“We want to spread cheer to the community here with the hope of a good Year of the Dragon,” he said.
“Any support for the temple or event will be welcomed for us to continue the tradition.”
Each year, thousands of devotees throng the temple to pay homage to the deity Chor Soo Kong on his birthday, which falls on the sixth day of the lunar calendar.
Managed by the Hokkien Kongsi, the temple is famous for its flame-watching ritual held the night before.
Produced by the fanning of a large incense urn filled with joss sticks, the flames are said to predict the state’s fortunes for the year based on the stability, brightness and strength of three bursts.
The 214-year-old temple was built for Master Choo Sor Kong, a Chinese Buddhist monk who lived during the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279).
When he died at 65 after a lifetime of good deeds, he was honoured with the title “Chor Soo”, meaning eminent historic figure, and was thereafter worshipped.
Legend has it that the deity gave shelter to snakes from the nearby jungle.
When the temple was completed, the snakes moved in and were regarded as his protectors.