Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fire Crossing - Ninth Day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2012 @ Ampang

The ninth day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is the busiest day for the Ampang Nan Tian Gong Temple. The entire day and night is packed with events and preparation. Firstly, the midday will see another feeding of the heavenly soldiers’ session. Next is the bed preparation for the fire walking/crossing later tonight. After that, they will have the round and round prayers and then prayers to confirm the time for the send-off. As the fire-walking also involves a large number of devotees from within the temple as well as those from other temples, it adds up to the huge logistics that needs to sorted out.
A storm threatened to wash out the fire walking ceremony. Luckily, the clouds just rolled by and all we got was a rumble of thunder here and there.

Mdm. Ho and some of the temple committee staff were busy getting the number tags for the devotees ready when I went into the office to collect my press pass. After getting my press pass (it felt like I could walk on fire), I went for a quick vegetarian lunch. The area for the fire-walking had been cleared of stalls and fences that keep spectators out had already been set up around this area.
This is what you need to DIY a fire walking ceremony - sand, charcoal and lots of manpower. Sprinkle in some kerosene and lots of foolhardiness.
As the sun sets, the charcoal bed slowly rises...It takes a lot of effort to ensure that the charcoal bed is properly compacted.

Inside this area, a bed of sand serves as the base of the charcoal walkway that would be slowly built up for the fire walking. Later in the afternoon, a group of men would take bags of charcoal and lay it on top of this sand bed. The charcoal would be pounded and compacted before even more charcoal was added to the existing layer. This process is repeated until a compact bed of charcoal is formed.
Adding more charcoal to the charcoal bed - the process is done under the watchful eyes of an expert.
Hah! You missed a spot. His sharp eyes ensures that the bed is well-compacted and easy on the feet of the fire-walkers during the fire crossing ceremony.
Up yours... Actually he is telling the guy in charge that he will pull the bags of charcoal up to empty its contents onto the bed. This is the last batch of charcoal and they have been building up the bed since 5.30pm in the afternoon.
After the fingers up in the previous photo, he seems to be saying "And f@#k you too!" He was checking to  see if there were anymore bags of charcoal left.

As darkness falls, four altars were set up within the fence area at four cardinal locations. The charcoal bed is then covered with joss-sticks, joss papers and doused liberally with kerosene. At 8pm sharp, the signal for the pit to be set ablaze was given. The flames from the pit leapt and danced, especially when more kerosene was poured onto the fire, fuelling the fiery flames.
Adding fuel to the fire. Joss paper, joss-sticks and a liberal dose of kerosene for the charcoal bed.
We didn't start the fire...it was him with the kerosene in the watering can.
The charcoal bed burning off the kerosene and joss-paper. The idea is to get a bed of hot charcoal embers. Bring out the marshmallows...
Fire, fire burning bright...Kerosene is added intermittently to sustain the flames.
Call the police, I caught the arsonist on camera running away from the scene of the crime. Oh, you mean you wanted him to set it on fire??

Once the charcoals were glowing hot, the central portion was tempered with a mixture of salt, tea leaves and rice. This allows for the safe passage of devotees during the ‘fire walking’ ceremony. The first to go through the pit are the temple priests, followed by the mediums and the sedan chairs. After that, devotees in white go through, carrying with them all sorts of personal items as well as deities from the temple.
Hmm, can I say that this scene reminds me of She-Ra, with the pagoda being Crystal Palace. The medium has a sword in his hand and wears a mini skirt like-robe, which is totally so She-Ra. The medium in trance crossing the fire pit after the Taoist priest had done so.
After the initial crossing of the fire by the mediums in trance, the sedan chair and their bearers cross the fire several times.
Mind over matter, mind over pain - devotees crossing the fire, protected by faith.
Look ma, no hands...A devotee having an epiphany of sorts whilst crossing the fire pit. Perhaps he just realised that the charcoal is hot!
Move aside South Park and the Asses of Fire trilogy, here's Kow Ong Yea  with Feet of Flames... It looks like their feet are on fire, when they are actually walking on the cooler parts of the bed.
One two take off shoes, three four walk the pit, five six burn my feet... Those embers look angry.

When all who should cross the fire had done so, more joss-sticks, joss paper and kerosene were added to the glowing charcoal bed, causing flames to leap and dance to the delight of spectators for the second time.
The fiery tongue of flames from the charcoal pit. You can see the burning joss-sticks and boxes of joss paper that were added to the pit after the crossing was over.

If you are going to watch this ceremony next year, it pays to be an early bird and pick a good location for yourself. Specifically, the two sides parallel to the charcoal bed offer better view. The end section only provides you with either people’s bum walking into the fire bed or people’s crotch front coming out of the fire walk. 

The Round and Round ceremony is posted in a following post (see links below) as this post is already too picture heavy.


My links for the 2012 Nine Emperor Gods Festival @ Ampang Nan Tian Gong



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Monday, October 22, 2012

Crossing the Bridge - Eighth Day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2012 @ Ampang

Dawn over ampang Nan Tian Gong Temple on the 8th Day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.

There is a bridge crossing (過平安橋/过平安桥) ceremony today (22nd October 2012) so do drop by Ampang Nine Emperor Gods temple to see or participate in the ceremony. Be here early (around 6.30pm) to see them build the bridge.

The Crossing the Bridge ceremony is commonly practiced at Chinese temples during special celebration (e.g. deity's birthday) as a form of blessing for the devotees to overcome evil (surmount the Yin element) and obtain blessings of heaven. Regardless of the material used to construct the bridge, seven lamps beneath the bridge and a basin of water is a must, as the lamps represent the Big Dipper stars (Ursa Major) and the water the Yin element, which will 'absorb' all the negative energy of those passing above.
This is the way we build a bridge, we build a bridge... Pieces of wooden truss and planks gets assembled into a bridge for the ceremony.

At Ampang Nan Tian Gong, the day (or rather the evening) starts with the setting up of the bridge. This is the part that I like most as it is fun to watch how seemingly unlikely pieces of planks and stands can be made into a bridge about one and a half foot off the ground. This process of setting up the bridge usually occurs around 6.30pm, when it is still bright.
Setting up the bridge for the ceremony. Here the flags have been placed at their respective stations.

Once the bridge is done, flags and flowers are placed at several locations along the bridge. A pair of black flags, called the Or Leng Ki, guards the entrance and exit of the bridge. Beneath the bridge, water (the Yin element, or the empty space) is represented by a bucket of water, and also underneath the bridge are seven oil lamps - a representation of the visible stars of the Big Dipper (two more Messier object makes up nine - the Nine Emperor Gods).
The Or Leng Ki protecting the bridge before it is being 'opened' by the Taoist priest and medium.
The ground beneath the bridge gets lined with joss paper and seven oil lamps are placed on top of the lined ground (one of the seven lamps is highlighted in this picture).
The bridge all ready and set... And photographers waiting for the action to start.

P: Psst, don't look back but I think there's something behind our backs.
A: You sure?? Don't scare me. I hope it is not a bridge troll!
P: Dunno. Could be another crazy photographer taking us squatting here, looking very unceremonious.
Me: Hehe! These two guys are gonna get this photo captioned with them taking a crap whilst waiting for the bridge crossing ceremony.

The ground beneath the bridge, the area leading to and from the bridge as well as all along the bridge gets a lining of joss-paper that will be constantly added as the ceremony progresses. The bridge will be 'manned' (or rather divinely guarded by the medium in trance) by the deities at the entrance as well as the exit of the bridge, with the 'big boss' seated on a sedan chair with nails facing the exit point of the bridge.

Gostan..gostan...What do you mean you don't want it here? The sedan chair for the medium - there is a bed of nails on the seat as well as on the foot rest, so it isn't a very comfortable chair be be on.
Waiting fot the Emperor...The Emperor's chair with a talisman seal on one of the back rest. The Or Leng Ki can be seen in this picture.
Why are we waiting?? Oh, the Emperor is facing a little 'wardrobe issue' and his make-up artist isn't here yet! Tsk! tsk! tsk!

When everything is set, all that is to be done is to wait for the auspicious hour, which is heralded by the clanging of temple bells and cymbals. This signals to the temple staff to light the seven lamps as the Taoist priest and the mediums, who are in trance approach the bridge. The mediums will cross the bridge first, to be followed by his 'royal entourage' of priests, urn master and devotees.
Must remember chin up...or else my false beard will fall off! A medium in trance as Guan Di crossing the bridge. He will then stand by the entrance of the bridge.

One medium will guard the entrance (this year they seemed to had taken invited Guan Di - the Chinese God of War, instead of the Finance Minister) and another the exit end of the bridge. The Emperor is seated on his sedan chair, facing the bridge, to provide additional blessings and advice to those who cross the bridge.
Say cheese! Hmm, how about say Konica! No? Ok lets try Yashica...Mamiya...Kubota...Toyota...Shizuka...Still no smile? Hmm, Lolita? Ok...Kow Ong Yea....yes??? Oh wait, he is in trance, just snap the bloody photo. One of the medium in trance standing guard at the exit of the bridge.

After the 'royal entourage' had crossed the bridge, older mature-aged devotees who wish to cross the bridge are given priority, and there are first aiders and volunteers who will help those who find crossing this bridge physically challenging. Also, children and infants are allowed to go through the 'express lane' whilst the rest will have to queue up and wait for their turn. As one crosses the bridge, the temple staff will stamp the back of your shirt with the temple seal as a sign of blessings. Donations buckets are banged on the bridge railings by the temple staff and monetary contributions are greeted with shouts of prosperity and good luck.
Mature-aged persons who wishes to cross the bridge are given priority, and so are children and toddlers. The queue was especially long this year, and we were asked to get white head covers for the bridge crossing.
Mommy, mommy, look it is Chinese Santa Claus! Nolah, is is just Uncle Guan Di giving lollipops to children crossing the bridge. I didn't get any but many 'big boys' aka temple assistants got them.
View of the exit end of the bridge,  from behind the Emperor. I believe the feathers on his cap are that of an Argus pheasant.
Smile...nope, he is definitely 'zoned out'.  Maybe he is not smiling because he is worried of the guy next to him suffering from severe bouts of flatulence. Another medium in trance - he guards the exit end of the bridge.

Since this event is open for all, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, believers or just crossing for fun, many visitors took the opportunity to participate in this ceremony. Personally, I felt that the bridge crossing for this year had more participants than the previous year; the time taken for the entire crossing this year was much longer too. The last batch of people to cross the bridge are the volunteers and temple staff.

This is followed by the the musicians (percussionist) and finally the medium, whom will be the last to cross the bridge. As the Emperor enters the bridge, the pair of Or Leng Ki on the entrance side are tied so as to block anything  from going in or out. Once the Emperor exits the bridge, the pair of Or Leng Ki on the exit end is also quickly tied across the bridge, blocking evil from following those who had crossed the bridge earlier.
Here comes the Emperor - the final run through the bridge.
The Emperor coming through the bridge. You can see that the Or Leng Ki on the entrance side is in the process of being tied together to close the bridge (lower left corner of pic).

After the ceremony, the crowd slowly disperse, only to be replaced by visitors that had just arrived. The flow of visitors to this temple never seem to cease, day or night. To end this post, here is a photo especially for Cheryl...
The reason for smoke apparently coming from his body...
1) He is hawt (appearance wise)
2) He is hot (temperament wise - someone pissed him off bad)
3) He is Hot (temperature wise - pants on fire??) or...
4) His is HOT like a deity that had decended from Heaven??(think of Thor etc.)

My links for the 2012 Nine Emperor Gods Festival @ Ampang Nan Tian Gong



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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Seventh Day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival 2012 @ Ampang

It is a Sunday (21st October) and many have taken the opportunity to come visit Ampang Nan Tian Gong Temple to witness and experience for themselves the Nine Emperor Gods Festival here. Despite the  heavy downpour on the afternoon of the 7th day, the temple was jam-packed with visitors, and vehicles were streaming in  and out non-stop the whole day.
Ampang Nan Tian Gong looking very glitzy just after dark (~7.30pm). The light stream all along Jalan Merdeka is an indication of how many visitors paid a visit to this temple.

As the festival draws towards the end, I will just show a few pictures tied to light and dark, reflections and contrast.
Falling lights - The North Star Deity Pagoda reflected onto the surface of water in a bucket. No, I am not Tua Pek Kong and that is not the number 1111. But if you do strike 4D-Magnum, I would love to have a share of it. If you don't win, do not blame me. Psst - buy 50 big, 50 small. Wait, it could be 7711, or 1144...
"The number you've dialed cannot be reached at this moment. Please try later."
Why I can't get you on your phone, Kow Ong Yeah? I need to ask a personal favour from you.
A guy sitting amidst the offerings, clutching his phone and looking very despondent. Either he isn't getting through to the gods on his phone, or he was forced to keep an eye over the offerings.
Priest: Are you ready for what's underneath my black coat...Ta daaa!
Urn Master: Hah, like that only ah??

or
Robin: Batman, there is something not right with your new costume.
Batman: Yeah, it is a little oversized and floppy.
Robin: Where did you get it from?
Batman: Oh, from a seller on eBay. It's a steal.
Robin: eBay where?
Batman: China, where else...
Robin: That figures (Smacks his own head)!
Fire and Water, Yin & Yang - the light of candles reflecting off the surface of a bucket of water which is used to douse the candles and the joss-sticks.

Remember to come on the 8th day to see the Bridge Crossing Ceremony. which is open to all, male and female, vegetarian or omnivorous.

My links for the 2012 Nine Emperor Gods Festival @ Ampang Nan Tian Gong


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