WELD Quay in Penang took on a carnival atmosphere as the Hokkiens at the Chew Jetty paid homage to the Thnee Kong (Jade Emperor) in conjunction with the deity’s birthday.
Thousands of local residents and tourists thronged the waterfront area to observe the 105-year-old annual tradition.
Revered tradition: Devotees gathering at the altar at the Chew Jetty in Weld Quay to offer prayers for the Jade Emperor's birthday or Thnee Kong Seh. A makeshift altar, measuring 28m long, was erected at the roadside.
It consisted of more than 70 tables and the large structure was dubbed as the ‘Gate to Heaven’.
Legend has it that back during the Sung Dynasty, the Hokkiens from the Fujian Province in China once escaped from invading armies by hiding in the sugarcane fields.
They emerged unharmed on the Thnee Kong Seh (the Jade Emperor’s birthday).
The clan believed that they were protected by the Emperor.
Giving thanks: Devotees kneeling at the altar to offer prayers on the eve of the Jade Emperor's birthday or Thnee Kong Seh. During the celebration, an array of offerings was placed at the altar which was decorated with bright red candles.
The offerings included roast suckling pig, roast chicken, roast ducks, seafood, a variety of fruits, thnee kong kuih (peach-shaped cakes), mee koo (red-coloured buns), ang koo (red glutinous tortoise cakes), huat kuih (pink prosperous cakes), ngor siew th’ng (pink pagoda-shaped candies) and bee koe (sweet glutinous rice).
Paying tribute: One of the Chew families at the jetty burning prayer paraphernalia as offerings. Chew Lay Loon, 51, who was present with her husband Seow Teong Seng, 59 and son Seow Heng Yew, 19, were seen placing an assortment of offerings at the altar.
“As far as I can remember, I have been doing this since I was a child.
“I keep the tradition running in the family and we come here every year to seek blessings for good luck and prosperity,” said Chew.
“The ngor siew th’ng is a must when we offer prayers to the Jade Emperor,” said Ch’ng Ai Tee, 65.
“As for the fruits, pineapples are usually offered as the item is known as ‘ong lai’ in Hokkien which literally means ‘auspiciousness (has) come.’
Annual ritual: The Tan family offering prayers to the Jade Emperor at the stroke of midnight. Brothers Loh Chee Siong, 35, and Loh Chee Kwong, 24, also did not want to miss out on the celebration.
They were seen offering a thnee kong poh (offerings in the form of golden-coloured paper shaped like pineapples) at the altar.
Visitors and devotees were drawn to the five enormous leng hneoh (dragon joss sticks) placed in front of ‘Gate to Heaven’ structure.
According to the Clan Jetty village development and security committee secretary Chew Kok Wah, 44, the joss sticks were specially ordered from Johor, costing around RM10,000.
No expenses were spared for the celebration.
The clan spent approximately RM100,000 on it, which included the prayer items, the altar, the acrobat shows and a mask-changing troupe from China as well as fireworks.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng praised the organising committee for making the celebration a success.
Fascinated by it all were G Hotel’s general manager Peter Nast and his wife Christina.
“We’ve never experienced anything like this before, so it is a great way for us to soak in the local culture,” said Peter, a German national, who has been working in Penang for almost a year now.
Dragon dance troupe members from the Han Chiang High School also mesmerised the crowd with their slick moves.
“This (event) is amazing. The experience is priceless and I find it more interesting than Christmas,” said Rebecca Marck, 62, from Chicago, who now resides in Penang under the Malaysia My Second Home scheme.
Bonfire time: Prayer material and 'gold ingots' heaped up into a big pile known as kim tsua. At the stroke of midnight, fireworks burst in the sky, enchanting the crowd.
The celebration then culminated with a bonfire of prayer paraphernalia and 'gold ingots’ made of joss paper in a mountain-like arrangement known as kim tsua (golden mountain).
It is also done as an offering to the Jade Emperor.
The Thnee Kong Seh is celebrated on the ninth day of the first month of thelunar calendar by the Hokkiens, who regard this auspicious day as their version of the New Year.
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