All set: Ng putting final touches to the giant effigy of the King of Hades, or Tai Su Yeah in Hokkien, at his workshop in Berapit, Bukit Mertajam. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The giant Tai Su Yeah (King of Hades) effigy is back to greet folks at the Pertubuhan Perayaan Yu Lan BM building at Jalan Pasar here and mark the start of the month-long Phor Thor celebration (Hungry Ghost Festival) tomorrow.
The 8.69m-tall effigy, probably the biggest in the country, will be transported by parts on trucks from Berapit, located about 3km away, at 11am.
With work nearing completion, its maker Ng Chi Wang, 67, said the effigy is about 2cm taller than that of last year.
“Each year, the effigy has received slight improvements, including additions to its height, since I started making them in 1984.
“It took me over a month to complete this year’s effigy, from creating its frame using bamboo strips tied together to covering it entirely with thousands of sheets of coloured paper.
“The textures and shapes need to be individually cut and folded by hand. This requires a lot of attention to detail,” he said yesterday.
The head itself measures about 3m tall while the torso is so big that several people can stand inside it.
Once delivered to the site, the effigy would be placed under a roof where thousands of devotees are expected to turn up to pray and make their offerings.
The main celebration will be on Aug 20 when the giant effigy will be wheeled out to the middle of Jalan Pasar to be burnt and “sent back” to Hell.
The festival this year will be from Aug 4 till Sept 2.
Taoist belief has it that when the gates of Hell open in the seventh lunar month, its denizens can enter the realm of humanity and feast on offerings of food and other needs while being watched over by Tai Su Yeah.
Stages are set up in predominantly Chinese areas in the state where performances are held to entertain the spirits.
Usually, communities and associations will host an appreciation dinner after the burning of paper effigies. People would then sit together to feast.
Part of the money raised through auctions and donations will go to charitable organisations, schools and non-governmental organisations to fund their activities or for the construction of new buildings.
