An hour before 12 midnight on every Chinese New Year's eve, there would be heavy human traffic at the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho (Goddess of Mercy) temple as devotees tried to be the first to offer incense sticks, hoping for good luck.
It's believed that the first person to insert his incense sticks in the urn, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, would have exceptionally good luck.
My hubby Chris goes to the temple to offer prayers every year but he's always never the first few in the queue. I hate going to that temple as there is not only heavy traffic, but the place is heavy with smoke from the incense burning! It's suffocating!
The moment 12 midnight struck, with yellings of "huat ah! (prosper!! )", the devotees rushed forward, pushing one another in their haste to insert their incense sticks. It is very dangerous. The people don't care even if there are elderly folks in their midst!
I cannot understand the devotees' persistence in wanting to be the first. Once the sticks are inserted, temple caretakers would quickly remove them so that those behind can place their joss sticks.
*************************ooOoo***********************
This being the second day of Chinese New Year, there were lots of events and activities happening on in Singapore.
Lunar Fiesta at Singapore Art Museum
Istana Open House
Friday, 8 February 2008 (to celebrate Chinese New Year)
Admission to the Istana grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents. Others, including foreign visitors, are required to pay an entrance fee of $1 per person. Entrance to the grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road. Opening hours are usually from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm.
7 - 17 February 2008
9am to 10 pm
Imbiah Lookout
Free Event
I usually post early for PhotoHunt, please post your link here so I can visit you.
SPAM will be deleted.
9am to 10 pm
Imbiah Lookout
Free Event
I usually post early for PhotoHunt, please post your link here so I can visit you.
SPAM will be deleted.
PhotoHunt
photohunt
Gong Hey Fatt Choy!! Chok Fok Lei Long Ma Ching Shen
ReplyDeletewah woman!!you went to "cha the tou yi zhu xiang" in that crowd arh?!?! never tio flaten like pan-cakes? :P
napaboaniya,
ReplyDeleteHAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!! ^-^
I didn't cha the first joss stick lah! The place is so smoky, hot and squeezy!
I'm not afraid of anything except for heavy crowds and heavy smoke. You are not afraid of being "pok mong" by people in such a uncontrollable gatherings? I guessed you would have prepared Madonna's pointed steel bra as precaution.. haha :P
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I hope you had enjoyed your CNY festive very well... err.. except for the ang pow giving sessions :P Gong Xi Fa Cai again from Penang :)
Come in for some fun in Criz’s Sanctuary and/or some serious matter in Insight Criz. Have a nice weekend!
criz,
ReplyDeleteHappy Lunar New Year!
Precisely! I don't go because I'm afraid of being molested. Being surrounded by a sea of sweating, smelly men, yucks!!
The ang-pow giving is bad for me... every year! Can you see smoke coming out of my head!?
Brings back flashes of memories. Having to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the temple to pray. If you are not wide awake, the smoke is enough to wake you up with tears.
ReplyDeleteI am glad those days are over for me. :)
I also dislike the heavy smoke during big festivities held in temples, like the 9 Ong Eeah. My eyes will start to shed tears everytime upon entering the temple! Then I'd have to run outside for some fresh air. LOL!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY RATTY NEW YR!
Kung Hei Fat Choi! Loved your take on the theme. Happy hunting.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for heavy. We also get heavy smoke here after new year. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteMommy's Little Corner
Happy Chinese New Year dear blog friend and may it be a really good one for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful end to your week too :-)
Excellent choice for the hunt! Have a great weekend :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful take on this week's theme. Have a great weekend. More New Year celebrations?
ReplyDeleteI still remember I used to accompany my parents to temple for this....the temple was packed with lots of people, incense sticks and smoke. I couldn't even open my eyes probably and tears kept flowing out like a river. It was a place full of hazards I must admit.
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting events. I've never really got to know how your new year is celebrated, so I'm glad you're writing about it, so I can be enlightened :-)
ReplyDelete(Though I don't think that I'd have gone to that temple either...)
Gong Xi Fatt Cai! :D
ReplyDeleteWhoa. I wonder every year the one who inserted the first incense stick really got good luck or not. The best luck that I can wish for is to come out safe from this crowd. @.@
what a great post for the theme! That smoke certainly does look heavy. Wow... Happy hunting!
ReplyDeleteInteresting how folks celebrate! Great photo's showing the welcome to the year of the rat.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes and prosperity to you and yours!
HEYA ECL!!!!
ReplyDeleteGONG XI GONG XI!!! HOW was ur new year!!
Oh..I remember this heady, HEAVY smell of the josssticks burning in the temples!!! Almost fainted once...too strong!!
I just put mine up..ha ha ha....
Gong Xi Fa Cai to U!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! I don't like heavy traffic and heavy crowds either. All those sweat...ugh.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was small I used to follow my aunt for all these, though now due to difference in religion.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, it's still CNY and Gong Xi Fa Cai. :)
Happy New Year ECL. This sounds like a dangerous event to attend. I don't think I would like to be there with all that smoky incense.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend ECL.
Great photos for the theme! Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year! May you have lots of good luck and good fortune, despite not being able to insert your joss stick in first!
ReplyDeleteI don't like heavy crowds either.
ReplyDeleteGong Xi Fatt Chai!!!
Gong xi fatt choi..
ReplyDeleteSo normally you all will go to temple for that on the first day of CNY ?
ya, it's a tradition already the Kwan Im Temple. the temple givers move the joss sticks very fast. i wonder if the one who manages to poke in first knows even if he is the first, lol.
ReplyDeleteKeong Hee Huat Chai, to you and Chris and Jaymes. twaa tarn. (earn big)
Happy Lunar New Year to you and your family, wishing you good health and happiness.
ReplyDeleteAs usual your pics are always fantastic!!!..Oh yes, everytime any festival here in Singapore, you can find heavy load of human traffic not to mention any SALE..hehe
ReplyDeleteGong Xi Fa Cai to u and family!!
Pearl
hahahaha i could just IMAGINE the sea of humanity welcoming the lunar new year =] prosperity to you and yours in the year ahead!
ReplyDeleteHappy chinese new year!!!
ReplyDeleteVery creative and interesting photo,happy hunting
Interesting post and good take on the theme. Happy lunar new year! I hope you have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post - so interesting! The photos do give you the feeling of atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteThe heavy human traffic at the temple during Chinese New Year reminds me of the days I joinned my parents to worship at the KuanYin temple in Penang around midnight.
ReplyDeleteNow that I am a Christian, if I'm in Penang around Chinese New Year, I would accompany my folks to the temple but I would sit in the car to wait for them.
It sounds like there is quite a queue with those incense sticks!
ReplyDeleteI dont like heavy traffic or crowds either. Actually who really does.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
We sure don't have the population you do.
ReplyDeleteI bet it was some celebration the Chinese New Year and if I'm right it the year of the rat and I was born under the sign the year of the rat.
My photo is up
Huat ah! Huat ahhh!
ReplyDeletewhat I worry about when in a crowd like that is the burning ashes from the incense sticks falling onto my skin :(
Happy Chinese New Year, eastcoast! All the best in the coming year!
ReplyDeletehappy lunar new year!..easy visualize whats goin on during your festive...Have a nice day TC
ReplyDeletemine is up too...hope to hear from you
Oooo, I am NOT big on heavy crowds either. Nice choice for The Hunt. Happy Lunar New Year.
ReplyDeleteGong xi fa cai!
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that there is such an interesting tradition on the first one dipping the stick into the pot (erm ... excuse my ignorance in language).
People got queue up overnight like those Hello Kitty episodes or not?
So fun ... such a festive moment. I miss the scent of the incense - however overpowering it may be.
whoahh. Must be fun in Singapore. Missed singapore, missed the yummy spicy noodles and bakuteh...
ReplyDeleteI agree - what's the point of being the first to put the candle when someone would take it away anyway???
ReplyDeleteHappy Lunar New Year. I liked that time of year in Singapore. Quiet and relaxed.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had fun. I had to work but they have quite a celebration at my work for the Chinese New Year. It is very loud and exciting. I do enjoy it although I would like to use some ear plugs.
ReplyDeleteLove and Blessings,
AngelBaby
Happy New Lunar Year.
ReplyDeleteHope you more prosperous.
http://mydreamvillage.blogspot.com
Happy CNY to you, ECL!
ReplyDeleteGong Xi Fa Cai ECL :)
ReplyDeleteI saw the news how those ppl 'fight' to be the first.
Hey ECL, thanks for the link to "You Are Damned" site, now I feel much better. You always rock, go girl!!
ReplyDeleteoh no, I am late for wishing you a Happy CNY.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Lunar New Year celebration. Wishing you great tidings the whole year round.
ReplyDelete