The Star, Tuesday August 6, 2013
Taoist monks in a trance had their body parts pierced to honour the deity Kuan Tei at the temple.
Hundreds of devotees turned up for the Kuan Tei temple procession at Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Kuala Lumpur recently.
The crowd of about 500 people took part in the 3km procession that started at 7pm and lasted two hours.
The procession snaked through major routes in the area such as Jalan Permaisuri and Jalan Temenggung and was held to commemorate the temple’s 22nd anniversary and to celebrate the birthday of its patron deity, Kuan Tei.
Also known as Kuan Kung (Lord Guan) or Guan Yu, the deity is worshipped as a prominent figure in Buddhism and Taoism; representing righteousness, justice and loyalty,
The procession was also held to celebrate the completion of the temple’s arch.
“An arch is as important as a temple in Chinese culture, as it represents the entryway into a holy place,” said Pertubuhan Penganut Dewa Kuan Kung Kuala Lumpur secretary-general Pang Kon Loong.
He said the arch was completed on July 25 this year.
“We have a procession once every three years to honour Kuan Tei. The
previous one was in 2012 but we are having it again this year as the
completion of the arch makes it a special occasion,” he added.
The procession included colourful lion dances, Taoist monks chanting prayers and devotees dressed as deities and giving out candy and blessings to the crowd.
An eye-catching part of the procession was the dragon dance, carried by 88 members of a local performing troupe. The 688ft-long dragon was imported from China and took two months to complete.
Another interesting display was a giant lion head mounted on a lorry, which measured 35 feet by six feet.
Covered palanquins, housing statues of deities, were carried around by devotees throughout the procession, as they chanted prayers at each crossroad to ward off evil and bless the area.
Devotees also had parts of their body pierced and took on the mannerisms of various deities while in a trance.
The procession ended with a fireworks display to usher in good luck.
The crowd then burned joss sticks and offered prayers to the deities in the temple.
For devotee How Haw Kee, it was his first time taking part in the procession.
“I pray that Kuan Tei will bless my family and me with a peaceful life and prosperity,” said the 50-year-old small business owner, who frequently prays at the temple.
The crowd of about 500 people took part in the 3km procession that started at 7pm and lasted two hours.
The procession snaked through major routes in the area such as Jalan Permaisuri and Jalan Temenggung and was held to commemorate the temple’s 22nd anniversary and to celebrate the birthday of its patron deity, Kuan Tei.
Also known as Kuan Kung (Lord Guan) or Guan Yu, the deity is worshipped as a prominent figure in Buddhism and Taoism; representing righteousness, justice and loyalty,
The procession was also held to celebrate the completion of the temple’s arch.
“An arch is as important as a temple in Chinese culture, as it represents the entryway into a holy place,” said Pertubuhan Penganut Dewa Kuan Kung Kuala Lumpur secretary-general Pang Kon Loong.
He said the arch was completed on July 25 this year.
Temple committee members cutting a ribbon to mark the official completion of the Kuan Tei temple's arch.
The procession included colourful lion dances, Taoist monks chanting prayers and devotees dressed as deities and giving out candy and blessings to the crowd.
An eye-catching part of the procession was the dragon dance, carried by 88 members of a local performing troupe. The 688ft-long dragon was imported from China and took two months to complete.
Another interesting display was a giant lion head mounted on a lorry, which measured 35 feet by six feet.
Covered palanquins, housing statues of deities, were carried around by devotees throughout the procession, as they chanted prayers at each crossroad to ward off evil and bless the area.
Devotees also had parts of their body pierced and took on the mannerisms of various deities while in a trance.
The procession ended with a fireworks display to usher in good luck.
The crowd then burned joss sticks and offered prayers to the deities in the temple.
For devotee How Haw Kee, it was his first time taking part in the procession.
“I pray that Kuan Tei will bless my family and me with a peaceful life and prosperity,” said the 50-year-old small business owner, who frequently prays at the temple.
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