The Festival of the Patriotic Poet is here again! This festival which fell on 16th June (the 5th day of the 5th lunar moon of the Chinese calendar) is celebrated widely in Penang by the offering of glutinuous rice dumplings to the gods and deities. The most popular types of dumplings are those with salty filling ("Kiam Chung") and half salty half sweet filling ("Pua Kiam Tee"). As usual, the eating shops were selling dumplings by the dozen and they cost anything from RM3.50 each depending on the variety you choose.
A sample of a "Puah Kiam Tee" dumpling
According to traditional belief, the period between 11.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. on this day is very auspicious. It is known as "Goh See" in Hokkien. Water from the tap is saved during this time to wash the face, bathe, drink or cook. In the olden days, a sprig of willow is used to sprinkle "Siang Hong" all over the house to ward off evil. ("Siang Hong" is a red powder obtainable from Chinese medicinal shops. It is mixed with water for sprinkling. You can see a bowl of "siang hong" in the picture below). It is also said that a raw egg is able to stand upright on its end during this time but I have yet to try it!
Part of the altar at Phor Tay temple
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