In Batu Gajah, a 12m-long “fire dragon” will be parading the streets near the town centre to further enhance the Chinese New Year festivities. Organised by the Sam Wong Kong Temple, the dragon will be filled with burning joss sticks from head to tail and paraded in a 500m-long procession on Saturday.
The temple chairman Cheah Chee Keong explained that the parade is part of its seven-day “Heavenly Gate Soaring Dragon Spiritual Event” to celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year. As this year is the Year of the Dragon, it is fitting to have a dragon as part of the festivities. The dragon requires nine people to carry it, which will then need about 30 people taking turns due to the heaviness caused by thousands of joss sticks being placed on it. The joss sticks will be removed and snuffed out after the parade, and the devotees can take them back home for luck.
After the parade, the dragon will be set on fire, symbolising the negation of inauspicious vibes. The event, mainly for devotees to pray for blessings and dispel bad luck, is held at the temple for the second time. Another significant activity during the event is the lighting of “seven stars spiritual lamps” in a bagua formation, a ritual popular in Taiwan for blessings and replenishing wealth luck.
The event is not common in Malaysia and was held for the first time last year, receiving good feedback from devotees whose wishes came true. This year, the temple received offerings from devotees of nine countries, including Canada, Indonesia, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, via its Facebook page.
Part of the proceeds from the event will be channelled to the Pertubuhan Mempertinggi Akhlak Chan Meng Khor dialysis centre in Ipoh, with the goal of raising about RM100,000 to buy two dialysis machines. If more than the targeted amount is raised, the money will be used to buy medicines for kidney patients at the centre, Cheah explained.
