Nine Emperor Gods Festival
The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, known as "Kow Wong Yeh" in Cantonese, occurs on
the 9th day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Despite the usual
rainy season during the festival, it remains a significant celebration in
Malaysia, particularly in Penang and Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Devotees adhere to a
strict nine-day vegetarian diet to cleanse themselves and honor the Nine
Emperors of Mankind, who are the sons of Thien Hou, the Queen Mother of Heaven.
Throughout the festival, the streets are lined with vegetarian food stalls
adorned with yellow banners, offering a diverse array of meatless dishes. Some
stalls operate 24/7 and have become a tourist attraction in themselves.
The festival's main attraction is the mediums who enter deep trances and perform
astonishing feats. These feats include immersing themselves in hot oil, piercing
their bodies with sharp, long spears, and walking through fire unharmed.
In Penang, popular temples for Nine Emperor devotees are located in Gat Lebuh
Macallum (on the island) and Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth (on the mainland). In
Kuala Lumpur, the most frequented temple is situated in Ampang New Village. As
with other Chinese festivals, float processions are customary. Interestingly,
the Hindu festival Navaratri, celebrating the nine forms of Shakti and female
divinity over nine days, coincides with this festival.
The celebration spans nine days, with a grand culmination on the last day (9th
day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar). On this day, a procession
commences from the temple grounds to the nearby shore, symbolically "sending"
the deities back to heaven on a boat adorned with gold paper. Amidst the clamor
of cymbals and drums, the boat is set ablaze, and devotees watch as it drifts
into the night.
The festival's commencement date varies each year based on the ninth month of
the Chinese lunar calendar. Tourists planning to partake in the festivities are
advised to confirm the date before planning their trip.
undo Malaysian Festivals