Prosperity all around: Visitors thronging the Armenian Park in George Town, Penang, which has been decorated for Miao Hui celebrations. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: It will be two weekends of colourful, traditional celebrations in Penang, but be prepared for the roads to be jammed.
First, there will be the Miao Hui (temple gathering) state-level new year celebrations tomorrow, followed by the 116th Thnee Kong Seh’s (Jade Emperor) birthday celebration at Chew Jetty.
The following week will see double festivities with Thaipusam and Chap Goh Meh on the very same day, which will see thousands taking to the streets to celebrate.
For Miao Hui, visitors will enjoy cultural performances, exhibitions, open houses, workshops, traditional food and plenty of other activities lined up.
These will take place from 4pm to 11pm across 15 stages, 23 clan houses and 11 roads in George Town’s heritage precinct.
Over 200,000 visitors are expected for the event, which is organised by Penang Chinese Clan Council with the Penang Cultural Inheritors Society as its planning and coordination partner.
Miao Hui has been celebrated for 24 years continuously since 1999, which was also coincidentally the Year of the Rabbit.
Penang Chinese Clan Council adviser Susan Kwoh advised those heading for the celebrations to carpool, use public transport or use ehailing services.
“We do have designated parking on our map, indicating the roads that will be closed and parking spots available, which are highlighted in green.
“The maps and details are available on our website and Facebook page,” she said.
On Sunday, the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebration at Chew Jetty, off Weld Quay, will resume this year on a grand scale.
The event, from 8pm to midnight, is expected to draw around 20,000 people and see stage performances as well as a prayer ceremony, which will be held for the first time in front of the newly restored Chau Yuan Gong Temple.
The road in front of Chew Jetty will be closed from 12.30pm on Sunday, with the Gat Lebuh Melayu-Gat Lebuh Chulia intersection also closed after 7pm.
Meanwhile, many restaurants are fully booked tomorrow for Ren Ri, or “everyone’s birthday” celebration, which falls on the seventh day of Chinese New Year.
According to traditional Chinese belief, Ren Ri was the day human beings were created, following the creation of the rooster, dog, pig, sheep, cow and horse.
Several restaurants here have stocked up on their yee sang and are offering a variety of packages tailored for Ren Ri as well as the Chinese New Year festival.
In Butterworth, a large crowd is expected to take part in the tradition of tossing yee sang at the Tow Boo Keong Temple in Jalan Raja Uda tomorrow, followed by the celebration of the Heavenly Jade Emperor’s birthday on Sunday.
