The Patriotic Poet's Back!

It's incredible how time flies.  It is once again the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (23rd June) and time once more for the Chang Festival.  Everyone more or less knows about the legend behind this festival - how the patriotic poet, Qu Yuan drowned himself in protest against the ruler and corrupt practices in China more than a thousand years ago.  It is said that people threw glutinous rice dumplings into the river where he drowned so that the fish would not eat his body.  The dumplings are eaten in conjunction with the Dragon Boat Festival during which the beating of the drums is said to also frighten the fish away!

We usually order our dumplings from Phor Tay Temple but this year, due to lack of help, they are able to make only enough for use in the temple, so I got ours from a nearby vegetarian shop as we prefer the vegetarian version.

The shop was selling four types of dumplings - "kiam chang" (savoury type), "pua kiam tee" (half savoury, half sweet), "choe bee" (made from brown rice instead of glutinuous rice) and "kin chang" (yellow dumplings made with lye water and usually eaten with syrup).  We bought the "pua kiam tee", a favourite with us,  at RM2.50 each which we thought was quite reasonable.

Dumplings for sale!

I don't know how many Penangites still observe this festival but this day is considered very auspicious and one is advised to wash one's face with tap water at the stroke of 12 for good luck and good fortune.  You can also keep some of the water and use it for cooking and bathing.  My maid was determined to see whether she could stand an egg upright - a phenomenon associated with this day.  Well, she was pretty pleased and excited when her egg did stand up!  However, it collapsed in less than a minute and I was able to take only one photo!

"Pua Kiam Tee" Chang and "Kin Chang" (Right)