An annual expression of filial piety, Perpetual Memorial Park will be hosting its Yulan Festival 2021 in all three of its parks.
HELD in conjunction with the Hungry Ghost Festival month, friends and family unite in their expression of filial piety known as an enlightenment ceremony.
This annual affair allows descendants to perform rituals in honour of the deceased and to have peace of mind knowing that their loved ones could go to a better place to achieve enlightenment in the afterlife.
According to Perpetual Memorial Park chief operating officer Tommy Chieng the ceremony is important as it preserves tradition and custom of some 5,000 years of rich Chinese history.
“It corresponds with the Chinese seventh lunar month when the Chinese believe during the entire month, spirits are being released to roam the world.
“At the same time, these roaming spirits will seek to gain merits to move from one dimension to another.”
Hence performing these rituals, he said, is a way for the living to guide departed loved ones to a better dimension and finally on the path of enlightenment.
Idyllically nestled in Kulai, Johor, Perpetual Memorial Park spans across a scenic 40.46ha freehold land carefully planned with artful landscaping.
Carrying on culture of filial piety
This year Perpetual Memorial Park “will invite renowned local Taoist masters and Buddhist monks to perform the rituals and ceremonies,” he said.
“The know-how of these masters and monks to connect with the spiritual dimension could provide the merits and pathway to lead the deceased to a better dimension.”
Perpetual will be holding its Yulan Festival 2021 in three of its parks in Ipoh, Perak as well as Kulai and Ulu Choh in Johor.
Touted as the first cemetery park of its kind in southern Malaysia, the Kulai memorial park spans across a scenic 40.46ha freehold land that has been carefully planned with beautiful landscaping and impeccable service to offer eternal bliss for the departed.
While the intentions and rituals of the ceremony are the same in all three parks, in Kulai however, both Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies will be held as a 27-year-long standing tradition of serving local residents, Chieng said.
“The new sites such as Ipoh and Ulu Choh which are only six years old, will conduct the ritual in Buddhism only,” he added.
Perpetual Memorial Park will provide masks and sanitiser to all those attending, in addition to the usual standard operating procedures (SOP) such as scanning Mysejahtera app and body temperature check.
Of duty and SOP
Taoism and Buddhism ceremonies, he said, are to prepare the pathway for the deceased to a better afterlife.
“Taoism is more about following custom and tradition passed down from ancestors while Buddhism is more about the knowledge and state of mind for both the living and deceased,” he said.
At Perpetual the ceremonies will be divided into two days – one day for Taoists and another for the Buddhist sect.
“There will be three sessions of prayer and chanting for each sect each day. The ceremonies for both days will start at 9am and end at 2pm,” he said.
Due to the current state of the pandemic, Chieng said, participation will be limited.
“We limit the number of participants and have a system to guide our customers to come at designated hours to avoid overcrowded situations.
“There will also be a live feed via Facebook for those who are unable to attend,” he said.
“We will give out masks and sanitiser to all those attending besides the usual standard operating procedures (SOP) such as scanning Mysejahtera app and body temperature check.”
For more information, visit products.perpetual.com.my.
