If you have been in Southeast Asian Countries such as Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand as well as the Riau Islands, it is pretty common that you will come across the festival known as the "Nine Emperor God" festival, annually celebrated on the 9th moon of the lunar calendar by Taoists.
As a gesture of honour and respect to the Nine Emperor Gods, Taoists will go on strict vegetarian diet; the food that they consume must to be free from meat or any form of live stock, the beverages that they drink must be free from alcohol... the kitchen cooking utensils that they use must not been used for cooking meaty meals; new toothbrushes must be used during this period.
Fire-walk-with-me : A Taoist medium who is in trance walks through hot burning coal during the Nine Emperor God ritual.
For others who have made vows to the Nine Emperor Gods and had their vows granted by the Gods, they will then have to 'return' their vows. Their vows could come in different forms; from going on strict vegetarian diet to fire-walking to carrying out body-piercing rituals or even placing their hands in hot boiling oil as a sign of purity.
A test of faith : It is believe that only a purified person can take on the fire-walking procession.
A festival that is also known as the "Kow Wong Yeh Festival" in Cantonese dialect or "Kew Ong Yah Festival" in Hokkien dialect, this festival is normally celebrated in the first nine days of the 9th moon of the lunar calendar.
At the Nine Emperor Gods temple located at Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, thousands of Taoists devotees will thronged the temple to pay homage to the Gods.
For the last three days of the festival, you can expect the celebration to be hyped-up with various spiritual practices such as the "Feeding of the Soldiers Ceremony", "Amoy Chinese Opera", "Taoists Bridge Crossing Ceremony" and ultimately, the fire-walking ceremony on the final day of the celebration!
Dance with the lion : Prancing Lion dance are commonly seen at religious Chinese events like the Nine Emperor God Festival. Before the prancing lions take stage for performance, as a gesture of respect to the deity, the lion dancer will pay homage to the deities first.
Prancing lion dance and dragon dance will take the streets around the vicinity of the Nine Emperor Gods temple in Jalan Ampang.
Heavenly symbols : In any auspicious Chinese religious events, Dragon dance and Lion dance could be often seen 'gracing' the event.
And on the 10th day of the celebration, the Nine Emperor Gods will be send off to the sea, where They were first being invited from.
Source :
Jalan Ampang, Nine Emperor Gods Temple
Programme
Oct 10: DAY 6
1400hours :
- Prayers/Feeding the Soldiers Ceremony
- Amoy Opera
2000hours :
- Amoy Opera
Oct 11: DAY 7
1400hours :
- Amoy Opera
2000hours :
- Amoy Opera
- MCG Tour to Festival with Hallway Events
Oct 12: DAY 8
1400hours :
1400hours :
- Amoy Opera
2000hours :
- Amoy Opera
- Bridge Crossing Ceremony
Oct 13: DAY 9
Oct 13: DAY 9
1400hours :
- Prayers/Feeding the Soldiers Ceremony
2000hours :
2000hours :
- Fire-walking Ceremony
2200hours :
2200hours :
- Amoy Opera
- Prayers at the Main Altar
Oct 14: Final Hours
- Prayers at the Main Altar
Oct 14: Final Hours
0200hours :
- Procession to Return the Emperor
0900hours :
0900hours :
- Taking Down the Lantern
