 Thaipusam (Link to
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Thaipusam is one of the most dramatic Hindu festivals celebrated in Penang.
Thaipusam eve day starts the festivities. The silver chariot carries the
image of the Lord Subramaniam from the Chettiar Temple in Penang Street to
the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple at Waterfall Road. This procession starts
at dawn and ends at sundown. During the process the crowds smash coconuts
and make offerings of incense, fruits, flowers, and money as the chariot
stops at every Hindu shrine along the way.
On Thaipusam day, there are processions of
kawadi bearers. To prepare for the more painful infliction, devotees are
induce into a trance at the starting point. Throughout the morning, many
kavadi-bearers start out at the Sivan temple at Dato Keramat Road. This is
a good place to watch participants undergoing an ablution of saffron water,
being put into the trance, and body piercing. The devotees, their supporters,
and general festival attendants proceed down Jalan Utama to the Waterfall
Temple, where offerings are made to Lord Subramaniam and the body spears
are removed.
Sang Cho
Kong
Celebrated by the Chinese community on the 24th day of the twelfth moon.
The Kitchen God keeps track of domestic happenings and flies off to heaven
at the end of every lunar year to report on the family. To keep his lips
sealed, an offering of sweets is made just before he embarks on his celestial
journey so that he’ll report only good and sweet things about the
family.
 Chinese New Year’s
Eve
The eve of the Lunar New Year is
traditionally a time for Chinese family members to get together over
a sumptuous reunion dinner. The steamboat is a favourite for reunion dinners,
with everyone sitting around in a cosy circle, cooking their portions of
food in a bubbling hot pot. This is also a good opportunity to swap stories
and gossip among themselves. All accounts for the old year have to be settled
before the end of the last work day, and no debts are to be collected during
the first 15 days of the New Year.
 Chinese New Year
*
The first day of the first moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. For the next
fifteen days, it is time to make the rounds, visiting relatives and friends
to wish them Gong Xi Fai Cai or Keong Hee Huat Chye. Children receive Ang
Pow (hongbao) from married adults. Lion and dragon dance troupes and acrobats
are called to homes, institutions, and temples to bless the new year with
prosperity.
Unless you are Chinese or very close
friends with a Chinese family, Chinese New Year will seem like any other
day, except that traffic to Batu Feringghi will be backed up, prices will
double all over town, and restaurants will be closed or fully booked. A good
time for expatriate families to get out of town.
Birthday of Chor Soo
Kong
Chor Soo Kong is the deity of the Snake Temple
in Sungai Kluang, is celebrated on the 6th day of the first moon. Chinese
opera is performed in front of the temple afternoon and night.
People's
Day
"Everyone's" birthday is a Chinese festival
on the 7th day of the first moon. To celebrate, the Chinese community will
feast on a traditional dish of "seven vegetables".
Birthday of Jade
Emperor
To honour Yu Huang, the Supreme Ruler of Heaven,
offerings are made to him at temples. The celebration actually starts on
the Eve of Jade Emperor’s Birthday on the 9th day of the first moon.
All night long, crowds throng the Thnee Kong Thnua at the foot of Penang
Hill next to the Lower Station to pay homage.
Chnea
Hoay
This is a flame watching ceremony held
at the Tua Peh Kong Temple, Tanjong Tokong. On 11.00pm this day, the temple
lights are switched off and joss embers are fanned to a flame. This divination
ceremony is organized by the members of the Poh Hock Seah (Precious Luck
Association) to forecast the economy of Penang for the coming
year.
Birthday of
Tua Pek
Kong
A Chinese celebration on the 15th day of the first moon. At the Tanjong Tokong
temple, devotees offer incense in honour of the Tua Pek Kong, God of Prosperity.
Chinese opera will be staged in afternoons and evenings during this
season. Once every twelve years, the God of Prosperity walks the streets
of George Town.
Chap Goh
Meh
A festival celebrated on the first full moon of the
Chinese New Year. Young Chinese girls come to Esplanade to throw mandarin
oranges into the sea and wish for a good husband.
Dondang Sayang groups go round the town serenading
the Chap Goh Meh crowds, singing their pantuns from beautifully decorated
buses. The singers pit their wits and voices against each other in a duel
of love songs. They are usually accompanied by musicians on the violin,
accordion, and skin drums. Click
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