BUTTERWORTH: The stage has been set for what is perhaps the biggest-ever gathering organised by a Tow Boo Kong temple in Southeast Asia tonight.
Thousands, including worshippers from China, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, are expected to witness the Taoist cultural celebration.
Nearly 100 floats will make their way along a 7.7km-route through town.
The floats will be accompanied by a procession of 13 10-foot and 45kg statues of deities from Taiwan and elaborate sedan chairs bearing Taoist idols.
One of the idols is a 300-year-old deity called lee ong yah.
The procession, passing through Jalan Raja Uda, Jalan Telaga Air, Jalan Bagan Jermal and Jalan Thamby Kechik here, is the highlight of the Tow Boo Kong temple's five-day 40th anniversary celebration that began on Wednesday.
Motorists should avoid Jalan Raja Uda which will be closed for the event.
Temple committee deputy chairman Ang Lim Kean, who is also celebration organising committee deputy chairman, said the celebration would also mark the completion of the temple's new premises.
Renovation of the 40-year-old temple was completed in 2008.
"According to Taoist rites, the jade emperor in the heavens must be informed when the building of a temple has been completed through a 'ching jiao' or a thanksgiving ceremony.
"And, since all Taoist temples keep close contact with each other across the region, we invited over 600 of our counterparts from China, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan to join us for this historic event," he told the New Straits Times.
Ang said 3,000 people were expected to participate in the procession with 20,000 watching the procession.
There will be sketches on ba jia jiang (eight military generals who are the official policemen of Hades) played by Taiwanese actors; the legendary water margin and his 36 companions played by 108 children in costumes from Thailand and a chingay team from Singapore.
There will also be a tai chi quan martial arts performance from China.
Since Wednesday, the temple has been bustling with activity as devotees and visitors thronged the temple to offer prayers to the principal deity, dou mu niang niang (mother of the stars), "mother" of the Nine Emperor God.
Temple secretary Loo Leong Hooi said the foreign delegations brought in everything they needed for the event, including the floats and deity statues, in large containers.
"Preparations for the event were very difficult with many visits to countries in the region to understand the intricacies of the ceremonies and procedures other than sorting out logistics.
"For many, I believe this will be a once in a lifetime experience," he added.
For Yeap Chong Kee and Frank Lee, who headed the Thai and Taiwanese delegates respectively, the event was a challenging and exhausting one but worth the effort.
Yeap said communications between the different delegations was difficult "but it was worth the effort as we do this for our beliefs".
For Lee and his 152-strong Taiwanese delegation, it has been an exciting first trip to Penang. "We are very tired but are glad to be part of this event," he said.
Photos by: Andy Lo
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