Labuan celebrates Emperor Gods fest in grand style
Published on: Tuesday, October 08, 2019
By: Sohan Das
LABUAN: The “Kew Ong Yeah” (Nine Emperor Gods) festival was once again celebrated with vibrancy and vigour at the landmark “Pak Sen Mew” (Temple of 8 Immortals) and hundreds thronged the temple to say their prayers and receive blessings.
Several Taoist priests including from outside were present to help in conducting the nine day event complete with various religious rituals self-flagellation to get ride of bad karma and other obstacles in career, business and family life. It is also a sign of atonement and fulfillment of vows.
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For the nine days devotees obtained from daily pleasures of any form and observed a strict vegetarian diet. No other temple in Borneo holds a similar festival on such a scale.
Chairman of the temple Datuk Wong Kii Yii said “we are pleased with the increased participation in this year’s festival with people coming from a far as well, it is not only a religious festival but also a colourful one promoting harmony and peace.”
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One of the highlights of the festival was a procession with hundreds participating a float, religious paper effigies and devotees with spiked checks weaving through the town main road and halting at Labuan’s oldest temple Tai Pek Kong. The precession was about 300-meter long.
One the final day the dieties were carries to a nearby river for homeward bound journey.