Thursday August 14, 2008
Temple offers condo for the dead
GEORGE TOWN: For the Hungry Ghosts festival this year, a temple here has prepared something special for the earthquake and cyclone victims of Sichuan, China and Myanmar – two luxury condominium towers.
The 5.5m-high paper effigy, along with other offerings, were burnt outside the Lebuhraya Jelutong temple yesterday in line with the Chinese belief that those in the afterlife would receive them.
“We wanted to do something special this year, so when the temple committee asked for a effigy design, I came up with a condo concept. This way, there is a lot of space for all the victims to have a home,” said Teong Leng Keong temple secretary Ong Ooi Huan, 50.
“The earthquake and cyclone victims have been added to the list of people that temple devotees are praying for, so we hope this offering will do something to appease their souls,” Ong said, adding that the effigy took two weeks to make.
‘Home’ for victims: The paper effigies of two luxury condominium towers and two joss paper structures being burnt at the Lebuhraya Jelutong temple in Penang yesterday. A contractor by profession, Ong said he based the design on a super condominium on the island which has been dubbed Penang’s “mini Petronas Twin Towers.”
It took eight people to move the structure, which was built complete with a three-storey basement car park and swimming pool.
The bright blue effigy was then set alight alongside two 3m-high kim chua (joss-paper) structures created by visiting Thai devotees.
“Thai devotees have been invited to celebrate the Hungry Ghost festival at this temple annually for the last five years.
“It’s great to visit the island and be able to help out in the celebration,” said Thai national Lau Siew Mei, 55.
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- The world just got bigger
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Vietnamese plumber fined RM10,000 over RM75 bribe
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
RSS
