Always a Sweet Ending

While the young were out there throwing oranges into the sea on Chap Goh Meh, we were sitting quietly at home watching TV and enjoying our "pungat".

"Pungat" is a great favourite with Mum. Prepared only once a year as a sweet ending to the 15 days of Chinese New Year, it is a delectable dessert comprising sweet potatoes, yam, bananas and sometimes "ti kuih" cooked in "santan" or coconut milk. In the old days, we used to cook it at home and I remember cutting the ingredients and getting them in the right size and shape! But now everyone takes the easy way out and buy from the shops. We ordered ours from nearby Phor Tay temple who make it every year for worship.

Phor Tay's big pot of "Pungat"

"Pungat" offering at our altar

Chap Goh Meh in Penang nowadays has become a cultural night. Apart from orange throwing competitions, there are cultural dances, chess matches, a "chingay" procession and a host of other events. Mum said that when she was young, she and her sisters would take a ride around town in an open air car every Chap Goh Meh. They wore their new clothes and jewellery and attracted a lot of attention as they rode by! Nowadays, the traffic jams make it impossible to carry out this tradition- who wants to get stuck in a long line of cars for hours?

The highlight of our Chinese New Year was prayers at our Sai centre with the annual appearance of our local "God of Prosperity" ("Chai Sin Eah"), a devotee who has been playing this role for a number of years! He always makes his grand entrance to the tune of loud Chinese New Year music and then distributes oranges and "ang pows". I heard from the grapevine that he had indicated his intention to "retire", so a search has to be made for new "talent" before the next Chinese New Year!

Enter the God of Prosperity!

In a way, I am glad Chinese New Year is over. I'm looking forward to less traffic jams and less crowded restaurants. It would be nice to move about again at a comfortable pace without undue stress and anxiety!