Thousands throng temple to usher in ‘Year of the Dog’

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Dancers perform the dragon dance at the temple.

SIBU: More than 10,000 people thronged the Tua Pek Kong Temple here to pray for prosperity as they ushered in the ‘Year of the Dog’ on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The temple’s deputy chairman Soon Choon Kui said it was a cultural practice that had been practised for generations after the temple – the first Chinese house of worship here – was built in the mid-19th century.

He said the people had also wanted to pray for harmony in their families and the sailing of another smooth year for their undertakings.

“The crowd started flooding in on the eve of the festival and the number increased in the evening, especially after the reunion dinner. The worshippers also brought food offerings apart from the offering of joss sticks.”

The visitors did not only comprise the locals coming in for blessings, as it also attracted tourists – the temple is one of the cultural heritages of this town.

The popularity of Tua Pek Kong Temple seemed to have spread afar – devotees from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as well as those from neighbouring Southeast Asian countries could be seen there.

Temple chairman Penghulu Soon Choon Hoo once told The Borneo Post that these foreign visitors had helped spread the popularity of Sibu Tua Pek Kong Temple by talking about it to their families and friends once they returned home – this, in turn, brought in more visitors.

“The temple has also attracted foreign scholars to study the Chinese culture in Southeast Asia,” he added.

People would converge here again with offerings for the birthday of the ‘Jade Emperor’ deity on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, followed by Chap Goh Meh which would conclude the Lunar New Year celebration next Thursday.