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Every year on the 14th night (5th Feb 2012) of the Lunar New Year, hundreds of devotees from all over Penang will visit the the Tanjung Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple for its annual flame watching ritual or “ Chneah Hoay”.

The 14th night is also believed to be Tua Pek Kong’s birthday.During this ceremony, embers in a ceremonial urn are fanned until the flames leaped up. The coming year’s fortune will be foretold from the size and shape of the fire.

On the 15th day (6th Feb 2012), which is the actual day of Tua Pek Kong, families will offer prayers to the deity.

In the mid 18th century, 40 years before the establishment of George Town , Tua Pek Kong or his human form Chang Lee left China with his two brothers . They were heading to Sumatra but their boat was blown to Penang instead.

They lived and settled in Penang and they are believed to be buried near the temple. Therefore, the Tanjung Bungah Tua Pek Kong temple is believed to be original Tua Pek Kong temple.

Fire Watching at Tua Pek Kong, Tanjung Tokong

Venue: Tua Pek Kong Temple, Tanjung Tokong
Date: 5th & 6th of February 2012
Time: 9pm-12.00 midnight

Thaipusam is celebrated during the full moon of the 10th month in the Hindu calendar. It is normally held in the last week of January or the beginning of February, depending on the alignment of the sun, moon and planets.

A pilgrimage procession takes place to bring the statue of Lord Muruga, who represents virtue, youth and power, on a silver chariot led by more then 60 Kavadis adorned with peacock feathers from Little India to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple atop the hill of Waterfall Road.

On the day before (6th of February) old coconuts are smashed along the roads where the Chariot procession will take place.
During Thaipusam day in Penang (7th of February) ,devotees go through a physical endurance of being skewered and pierced on the back and front of their bodies by hooks with miniature urns as an act of penance.

Majority of the devotees who go through this act are Indians but Chinese, Sikh and other visitors can also be seen taking part in this act of faith which leaves many devotees and observers alike, spiritually transformed.

In celebration, more than 100 beautifully-decorated make-shift stalls, are erected along Waterfall Road road where charitable Chinese and Indian families give out bottled water, fruits, sweet, buns and prepared sweetened and sour rice to devotees.

Thunderous loud music, singing, dancing and the beating of drums of devotional songs by their supporters can be seen and heard far and wide throughout the entire vicinity of the festival.

Upon reaching the temple, devotees will fulfill their vows, offer thanksgiving prayers and penance to Lord Muruga. The chariot is then scheduled for a return trip (8th of February) to start from the temple on the same evening and reach Kovil Veedu before dawn the following day.

This festival of rich culture and deep tradition is an ‘out of this world’ experience which draws a massive crowd of tens of thousands to these streets in Penang yearly. Visitors especially from outside Malaysia are encouraged to experience this unique religious celebration.

Schedule:

6 Feb 2012-6am to 11pm CHETTIAR PUSAM – THAIPUSAM EVE:
Chariot bearing LORD MURUGA leaving KOVIL VEDDU (Little India) to Waterfall TANNERMALAI Temple (7km)

7 Feb 2012 Thaipusam Day:
Devotees start taking PALKUDAM (milk pot), KAVADI

8-9 Feb 2012 – 6PM to 7am:
Chariot move back to home from TANNERMALAI to KOVIL VEDDU (Little India) (7km) reach home the next day.

Thaipusam 2012
Date: 6th to 8th of February 2012
Venue: Little India, Penang General Hospital, Waterfall Road.

Maulidur Rasul falls on the 5th of February this year. The celebration commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), one of the most influential figures in human history and his teachings.

Maulidur Rasul is one of several auspicious celebrations for Muslims and it is officially celebrated at State level in Penang every year.

In conjunction with this special celebration, the State Government will be organising various activities with the objective of celebrating the history of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.’s teachings and in effort to further unite the Muslim Community for mankind to once again embrace moments of glory in the civilisation of man.

The program will start with a Maulidur Rasul procession from Padang Esplanade to Dewan Sri Pinang at 7.00 a.m. At 9.30 a.m, the Governor of Penang, TYT Tun Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas will arrive at Dewan Sri Pinang for Quranic Recital and short talk on the Prophet. The programme will be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia.

Date: 5th February 2012
Venue: Dewan Sri Pinang, Light Street
Time: 7.00 am -12.00pm

For more information please call : 04-263 7200

Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) will be organizing a Chap Goh Meh Celebration along Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling (outside PCTH) on the 4th of February from 9pm – 12 midnight.

From 7.30pm to 9.30pm visitors will be entertained with other cultural performances inside PCTH’s auditorium which includes a Chinese orchestra and a choir with over 100 members.

At 9.30, there will be a dragon and phoenix dance along Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling. Hawker stalls would also be set up along Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling from 6pm onwards.

For more information please contact : 04-2611343

Date: 4th February 2012
Venue: Streets of Harmony, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
Time: 9pm – 12.00midnight

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Thaipusam is a public holiday in Penang.
Thaipusam Festival is one of major Hindu festivals in Penang. It is a fascinating Hindu festival that includes a parade of purification and cleansing rituals.

Devotees carry Kavadi or a colourfully decorated frame to Waterfall Gardens temple, near Penang Botanic Gardens. Some devotees pierce cheeks or tongues with spikes and skewers in show of penance.

It is a spiritual parade of holy rituals for purification from atonement wrongs among the Hindu devotees.

As the chariot passes the streets, devotees smash coconuts as offerings and to give thanks to the deity.

Chariot procession will start on the 1st day from Penang Street and ends at Waterfall Road at the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple, where the centre of the celebration takes place.

Extra Buses: 10 extra buses bearing “Thaipusam Festive Shuttle” sign will leave Weld Quay (Ferry) from 3pm to midnight and 6.30am to midnight and 6.30am to noon during the three days.

The final stop will be in front of the Tanjung Hospital in Jalan Burma, about 500m from the Thaipusam celebration site in Jalan Kebun Bunga.

Thaipusam

Organizer: Penang Hindu Endowments Board
Contact: 04-6505136
Venue: Murugan Temple, Waterfall
(Note: Date subject to change)

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