Celebration Of The Birth Of Nine God Kings.

Yesterday I went to the once-a-year celebration festival of the birth of Nine God Kings, in a town near my home with my whole family. It's a traditional celebration all over Malaysia among the Chinese society in only certain temples, (the Tao one), where it's said that the 1st of 9th month til 9th of 9th month in lunar calendar, is the birthday of the Nine God Kings in heaven. And it's always comes with the rain, and goes with the rain too. Thus, during this period of celebration, it will always be raining day ( Raining is actually considered to be God's duty - the Dragon King, and raining actually means prosperity, as a gift to humans(the farmers) in the past.). It's celebrated every year in Malaysia, with lots of performances, and during this period, you can usually see lots of Chinese people wearing a yellow string on their wrist as a method to show participation in the celebration.

This celebration lasts for 9 days, and there will be lots of worshipping ceremony everyday. Food are served only in vegetables or anything non-related to killing as a respect. Other than that, the temple management council will also invite perfomance team (local singers) to provide entertainment every night, and also as a way to attract people come over to join the joy. Hence, basically, everyday during the period, one can expect to see smoke of incense all over the temple,day and night. One of the most interesting parts of this festival is the possesion of the Gods' spirit in selected people. It's said that during this time, the Gods will take control of selected followers and possess them. And when they are being possessed, the Gods will completely take control of their bodies, and act according to His behaviour. One of Gods in the heaven, is Na Zha (a little child which is very naughy,for more details, look in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nezha_deity ). And of course, there will be lots of piercings of needles, of steel rods on the possessed body to show the superiority of Gods.




At day 7th, usually there will be parade on the streets. Where you can see the Gods (possessed people) showing walking and visiting the town with piercings and different sets of clothes (according to their appearances), together with the members of the temple management council, where they will be drums and all sorts of celebration activity as in a parade on the street. And this parade will not be canceled, even if it's raining, and followers will also be walking together with the whole bunch of people, and just join for the celebration. Moreover, the Gods might even walk through the hot charcoal on the floor, or step on the sharp objects, using His ''human body''.

On the last day, the Gods will be sent back to heaven at night, through the river, as they come by the river as well. They will be sent in paper boat made with paper and be burned (as it's believed it's a way to send things or connect with the other world) on the river. Of course, welcoming and parting ceremonies are in huge scale the same way. There will be lots of followers joining the ceremony, where at first, there will be praying done in the temple, and then together everyone will be walking to the nearby river (where they are being fetched). It's really an interesting event where you can see huge number of people celebrating the event and sharing the joys.And definitely, I guess it's good to know that lots of people are still believing and having faith in their religion.