The 8th day of the lunar new year marks an important event for the Hokkien community. This is "Thnee Kong Seh" or the Birthday of the Jade Emperor, the Ruler of Heaven. According to legend, he was the protector of their ancestors in China, who escaped massacre by a cruel general by hiding in a sugar cane plantation. They emerged unharmed at midnight after the 8th day of the new year.
In Penang, the celebration of the Jade Emperor's Birthday takes on a grand scale. Devotees throng the markets to buy offerings such as sugar cane, "ti kuih", "huat kuih" and other prayer paraphernalia such as giant joss sticks and folded gold-coloured paper ("thnee kong kim"). Prayers usually start at midnight and we were of course part of the rush to set up our altar.
Gold coloured paper in the shape of pineapples
Some offerings
(L to R) "Huat Kuih" (pink rice cake), "Ti Kuih" (sweet glutinous rice cake),
pomelo, glutinous rice,"ang koo" (red glutinous rice cake), Mandarin oranges and pineapple.
In the far left hand corner are some folded gold-stamped paper for prayer.
Stacks of gold-stamped paper for prayer
As midnight approached, the air became alive with the sound of fire crackers and fireworks. The big, noisy bangs of crackers are believed to bring in good luck and good fortune and chase away bad luck. We didn't have the nerve to let off more than two strings of crackers - whether that was enough to scare off the bad vibes I don't know but it was enough to make the stray cats sleeping in our garden jump out of their skins!
Penang has always been well known for its pious and God-fearing people. In fact it has even been said that it is their devout prayers and devotion that have saved the island from many a calamity. With the multitude of people praying on "Thnee Kong Seh", I believe the Jade Emperor will certainly not let their prayers go unheeded and hopefully peace and harmony will always reign on this lovely, little island.
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