when we were on the way back from dinner with my aunt and uncle...we pass by a temple many people there was busy making steam buns...so crowded...some are praying some are watching performance but mostly are buying the steam buns...haha..so many people lining up..haha...my parents are telling us how does they celebrate and how it came about..The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Chinese: 九皇爺; pinyin: jiǔhuángyé; Hokkien: Kow Ong Yah; Cantonese: Kow Wong Yeh) is a nine-day celebration observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors. Since the arrival of the gods are believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea-shore or river to symbolize this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their excellencies.
A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration.
The ninth day of the festival is its climax. A procession which draws scores of devotees send the deities back home (a waterway such as river or sea).
Turtles and tortoises are frequently depicted in popular culture as easygoing, patient, and wise creatures.The turtle has a prominent position as a symbol of steadfastness and tranquillity in religion, mythology, and folklore from around the world. A tortoise’s longevity is suggested by its long lifespan and its shell, which was thought to protect it from any foe. In the creation myths of several cultures, the turtle or tortoise carries the world upon its back or supports the heavens.
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