Yellow is... beautiful

There is just this strange attraction that the colour yellow has on this nation. From the royal colour to a 'reviled' protest, we seem to be attracted to all things yellow. And yellow Adeniums are of course, very popular.

Adenium Thong Yod (or Thong Yot) - golden drop. The yellow is strong, but takes on a greenish-chrome yellow tone. Well, still better than pale off-white yellows.

Despite the attractiveness of yellow adeniums, they all tend to have a major flaw, at least in our climate. The yellows tend to fade to cream or white, or never develops the intensity that is advertised when grown in say Taiwan or Thailand. However, the plus side of yellow blooms are that most of them are weakly fragrant or more so in some selected hybrids.

Adenium Yellow Premsup - a pale yellow aging to pink blush yellow.

Adenium Princess Fragrance - the scent is rather strong, especially as the flowers age.

I believe that this is due to pigments or pigment development that is temperature sensitive or controlled by temperature sensitive gene transcriptions. Some bicoloured reds are too, ranging from truly two-toned to just pure red depending on the temps that were prevalent when the buds were developing.

The two-tone petals of Adenium Vietnam Love appears to be temperature sensitive. Too warm and they turn all red.

Perhaps breeding of yellows could be done in Malaysia, and a strong persistent yellow form be found for our climate that doesn't fade away.

Are you still hungry tonite?? Hungry Ghost Part 2

Before we move on to the Mooncake Festival, here are more shots of Hungry Ghost Festival...

Pandan Perdana, KL

Under my umbrella, ella ella - the lamps are the signpost to spirits that a 'feast' is on.

Colourful kuihs on the offering table.

A light for the souls - Tua Pek and a candle.

Huat ah, huat ah... kuih with the Chinese character 发 (發) meaning to bring forth ie bring forth good fortunes etc.

Pandan Mewah, Selangor

A leap of faith - A Taoist priest does the 'Breaking the Walls of Hell' ceremony for departed relatives.

Bukit Mertajam, Penang

I've got my eyes on you...

Hazed in...

Pray, pray, don't play play

I'll be back... next year.

Lim Jetty, Penang

A Chinese opera actor puts on make-up to perform for the spirits and humans.

 Jelutong West (Bukit Dumbar), Penang

The paper effigy of the King of Hades being carried off to be burnt.

Ampang Nine Emperor Gods Temple, Selangor

Offerings to the Hungry Ghost.

Not BR1M - priest giving out coins during the prayer ceremony.

Ampang Mewah, Selangor

A syncretic version where Amida Buddha and Taoist Pure Ones were worshipped in the festival.

Prayers for the spirits

Burn baby, burn... King of Hades and his retinue being sent off at the end of the ceremony.

Taman Desa Bakti Selayang, KL

Once in every three years, they will have a procession to 'cleanse' and appease the spirits at the roads.

Offering at road junctions.

Seng Hong Temple Brickfields, KL

Throw him down once more... Mediums playing with a bed of broken glass.

A medium in trance with Da Shi Ye, the King of Hades, blessing the plaque that he carries with blood from his cut tongue.

Sending off the King of Hades with the help of mediums.

That's all folks, see you next year... Like Arnie said "I'll be back!"

Hungry Ghost Festival - Are you hungry tonite???

The Hungry Ghost month is coming to the midpoint, so I am sure some of you would have seen the stage and altars on the roads or even the joss-sticks and candles stuck on the roadsides. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a mixture of ancient folk believe, Taoism and Buddhist practices that is amalgamated into this hodgepodge of rites, rituals and superstitions, especially by the South-East Asian Chinese diaspora.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - food offering to the King of Hades.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - empty row of seats in front of the stage. They are provided a stack of joss-paper money and an orange as a show snack.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - candles and other items on altar table.

 

The Hungry Ghost Month is the 7th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. The Chinese believed that ghosts are let out of Hell to roam the Earth on this month. Hence the staging of Chinese operas as well as shows called ge-tai or go tai to provide entertainment to the spirits to prevent mischief. Whilst the show is meant for the wandering spirits, it doesn't mean that humans do not enjoy the show. However, the first row of seats are always reserved for the spirits, also called 'good siblings/brothers'.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - sending off the officers of Hell.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - burning off the King of Hades paper effigy.

To control the wandering spirits, the officers of Hell will also come up and set up a 'temporary' court. Hence a large shelter housing the paper effigy of the King of Hades and his assistants are erected to ensure safety of the people. When the 'entertainment' is over, the King of Hades and all of his officers will be burnt in a big bonfire as to send them back to their original office.

Hungry Ghost @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang - Beautifully crafted paper effigy of King of Hades.

Hungry Ghost @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang - Besides roasted pork, duck and chicken, there were also raw pork and goat on the table!

Hungry Ghost @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang - the very long offering table for the King of Hades at Bukit Mertajam

Paper and food offerings are given, both to the wandering spirits or hungry ghost, as well as to the deities in charge of the proceedings. Elaborated stacks of food, cakes and fruits are often placed on the altar table to the King of Hades, and superstition has it that nothing that is not intended as offering are to be placed on that table, for once something is placed on it, it is considered an offering to the King of Hades and his retinue.

Hungry Ghost @ Maluri, Cheras - Laying down joss paper to make a circle for the big burning off.

Hungry Ghost @ Maluri, Cheras - that is a lot of work to make the bonfire base.

Hungry Ghost @ Maluri, Cheras - Here in Maluri, a medium in trance is in charge of the send-off proceedings. He inspects the circle and gives the green light to proceed.

Depending on the location, the entire procedure of the setup, worshiping and send off for the King of Hades can be overseen by Taoist priest, syncretic Taoist/Buddhist priest or spiritual mediums channeling a particular deity. Thus different locations will give you variations to the entire procedure and can be very interesting to watch and compare.