CNY 2010 Day 9: Fireworks @ bai tian gong aka 拜天公

At Lunar New Year Day 9, the Hokkien will hold a Jade Emperor ritual (bai tian gong or 拜天公) which incenses are burnt and food offerings are made to the Jade Emperor and also to Zao Jun, the god of kitchen who reports to the Emperor on each family. It was the birthday of the Jade Emperor who is the Taoist ruler of Heaven based on folks culture. In actual Taoism, Jade Emperor governs all the mortal's realm and below. (Information from: Wikipedia) It is a common practice to hold the ritual prayer at late night passing 12 am on CNY Day 8. In Malaysia, prayers usually will light the fireworks during the prayer. The fireworks displayed is of much greater number and intensity compared to the one burnt during the CNY Day 1 prayers. Hence, it is a common perception that the Hokkien people are richer than the others. In my observation, it seem that the fireworks display this year was greater than previous year. The police patrol car already start patrolling my area at approximately 9.30 pm. You know what they were here for right?

The releasing of wishing lantern by my friend, Yen Moi's family

It is a norm for the prayers to release the wishing lantern aka 孔明灯 aka kong ming lantern up to the sky. Prayers will hand write their wishes on the wishing lantern before the candle inside the lantern is lighted.

May your wishes become true

After the candle is lighted, wait for a few minute then release it off. It will then 'fly' up freely to the sky. It is hope that the wishes will be fulfilled. This wishing lantern was invented by 诸葛孔明（即诸葛亮) aka zhu ge liang. Basically, there is a simple science theory on why this lantern can 'fly' up to the sky. When the candle is burnt, oxygen will be used up leading to vacuum conditions (if it is a closed container) and together with the heat produced causes the lowering of pressure inside the lantern. The differences in pressure will push the lantern upwards. Alright, that's all for the history and bai tian kong celebration of my friend, Yen Moi's family. Back to myself, I am not a 'hokkien lang' but a Cantonese Chinese. However, I do share the bizarre and bombastic night by capturing the fireworks display at my housing area. WARNING: The below pictures was captured by the person you known who are noob in photography. Pic 1: ISO 400, 0'3, F8.0 Try click to enlarge the photo. Kind of like the effect. Pic 2: ISO 400, 0'3, F8.0 Pic 3: ISO 400, 0'8, F8.0 Pic 4: ISO 400, 0'8, F8.0 Pic 5: ISO 80, 0'6, F8.0 Pic 6: ISO 80, 0'6, F8.0 Pic 7: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 8: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 9: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 10: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 11: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 12: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 13: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 14: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 15: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 16: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 17: ISO 80, 1', F8.0 Pic 18: ISO 80, 1'3, F8.0 Pic 19: ISO 80, 1'6, F8.0 Pic 20: ISO 80, 1'3, F8.0 Pic 21: ISO 80, 0'6, F8.0 Pic 22: ISO 80, 0'6, F8.0 Pic 23: ISO 80, 0'6, F8.0 Pic 24: ISO 80, 0'6, F8.0

Reunion dinner @ CNY Eve

Well, as we already being informed, reunion dinner usually is held the night before a new year in Lunar calendar begins. It is the day where family members meet, eat, chat and laugh together. In ancient times, it is a 'pantang' for not attending the dinner. In modern days, it is not a must but advisable. Some even did not go back to their home town citing busy with their works, business or whatsoever reasons leaving behind their parents in 'kampung'. Remember the award winning Petronas tv commercial? It send a strong message to the youngsters not to forget about their parents who are waiting for their homecoming during this festive season.

As for my family, we had the reunion dinner on Thursday night. We had reunion dinner earlier each year ever since my sister (Jun Jun's mum) had married. She need to be on her husband side family for their reunion dinner. All of the above was my mum cooking including a kampung chicken delivered fresh from Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. For Chinese community in Malaysia, a new year will not be perfect with toasting yee sang. If not mistaken, this yee sang was originated from Malaysia. It consists of 7 different parts of vegetables and is mixed with slices of fresh fish. Do you know how to make a vegetarian yee sang? Click here for my post last year. After the reunion dinner, family members will wait the arrival of the first day of CNY. Parents will place a table at the entrance of the house which is covered with red wrappings. Then, they will put offerings and also other prayers item to greet the God of Fortune. Each year, the arrival of God of Fortune is different. So, you need to check the timing with the aunties to confirm the time as well as the direction of the prayers. Usually, during the prayers, crackers will be burnt to shoo away the bad lucks or spirits (if not mistaken) and to greet the God of Fortune. For typical Chinese, they won't care of being issued a summon letter but most importantly, they got the 'ong' or wealthiness from the prayers. In fact, things can be settle with an angpow to shoo away the policemen. It is the best time for them to 'cari makan' too. Usually, police patrol cars can be seen since 9-10 pm till the midnight of 1-2 am. This picture is freshly taken a moment ago during the prayers. I can feel the festive spirits as many burnt fire crackers. I guess it will be even more during cho 9.

That's the best shot. Taken from my house compound.

Finally, I took a brave move to post this picture. It was taken at Thean Hou temple and my friend force me to wear that. Check out my 'ong' hat and its tail. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Happy Chinese New Year. I had made the header above just for this festive season period. Hope it won't be so ugly as I do not know how to use photoshop, only know powerpoint. Once again,

1. For all my dear readers: TQ for your constant visiting and commenting. Love you guys so much.
2. For all $mile readers, may this year brings us more income$.
3. For non Chinese readers: Happy HoLIDayS!!

Tiger roars!! It's my year!! Gong Xi Fa Chai!!

CNY 2010 Decorations @ 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Hurray!! Today is the eve of CNY! Finally, the most awaited festive season has arrived. So, have you done with you CNY shopping? While doing so at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, I snapped some of the CNY decors.




Fortune cat? I wonder why there is no tiger being displayed instead of these cats.

Red lanterns are a must symbolising prosperity, health and wealth.

Some stalls selling CNY items at the main hall.

While shopping half way, I heard loud noises of the Chinese drums. So, I tailed the sound till I reached back to this hall which was already fully packed! It was a lion dance performance!


Due to the crowd, I have no choice but to stand behind somebody and snap those photos using high zoom. Luckily, I still have the enough height to do so.

Let see the my recorded video below:

After the stage performance, the lion went down to reach to the crowds so that they can touch it. Is it an 'ong' act to touch the lion?

There were two lions, red and green.

Too bad I was standing at upper floors as the ground floor was super crowded.

Back to the main stage.

After the lion dance, there was another show by myFm. Not sure what was it.


At another site, there were these Chinese cultural dance performances. If not mistaken, you can see such same performances at all Jusco shopping complex.


Another one. Why don't we see their performance through my below recorded video clip.

After that, we went to McD because Jun Jun want some French fries. He was no. 1 fans of McD since age of 3.


This was the depressed Jun Jun. Just 2 weeks of schooling at a kindergarten, I was shock to learn that he had depression. His attitude was totally change in just 2 weeks. He was physically weak and slimmer. He cried daily and do not want to go school. He can't even recognised me and started to be afraid of me. He don't play with his toys, do not eat his favourite McD etc. All that he did was to cry and sleep daily.

Poor Jun Jun. At 3rd week, he took a week holiday due to fever before resuming class at 4th week. Perhaps that the one week time was good enough to recover his emotions, he started not to cry that often thereafter. As his kau fu, I do played part by bringing him out and promises him more if he do not cry or do not refuse to go school. He can be easily persuaded with McD French fries. Haha. He is getting better now.

Thanks for the nang!