Baba's thought for today."Food which fans the flames of thirst should be avoided."
The ninth day of the Chinese lunar calendar signifies the last day of the celebration of the festival of the Nine Emperor Gods. This Taoist festival, is a religious one dedicated to the nine sons of the Queen of Heaven and Goddess of the North Star who is believed to control the Book of Life and Death. The nine sons known as the Nine Emperors are worshipped as patrons of prosperity, wealth and health. This may explain the large hugh crowds during this festival.
On the first day of this festival also known as "Kiew Ong Yiah" devotees do to a river bank or a seaside locality to invite and receive the deity for the nine days of worship, prayers, chanting and observance of vegetarian diet. Temples dedictaed to this deity are crowded with worshippers, the majority clad in white and many stay in the temple compound for the duration of the festival. Some do this as a form of thanksgiving for favours granted, some in prepration for the solemn and mystic ceremony of going into a trance, (some with spears pierced thorugh their cheeks, some with objects hanging form hooks on thier bare backs, just to name a few) some to fulfill their vow for the fire crossing ceremony. As an observor, I am amazed by the deep faith of these devotees and their endurance in undertaking such acts of faith.
On the eighth day there is a procession through the town and the many floats bearing the different deities from participating temple, add novelty to the celebration. An interesting and for me an unexplained phenomena is the sight of the sedan chair (bearing the deity) carried by four people, jerking and tossing around and rocking wildly as it makes its way through the town.
An unusual observation this year is the presence of female mediums or devotees in a trance forming part fo the procession. It is interesting that women are also gaining equality in this area!!
The last day is marked by the fire walking ceremony after which the deity will be sent off.
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