Do you live in Tiong Bahru? Or have you lived here before? Maybe you are a friend of the area, because you have family and friends here. Perhaps you just love this neighbourhood. All are welcome to come on board this blog to share your thoughts, ideas, concerns, and stories.
Everything is set up at Eng Hoon Street today, as the celebration for the Birthday of the Great Heavenly Sage commences - and it is also the 90th Anniversary of this particular temple.
Something to look out for this time would be the display of a wide range of historic sedan chairs for the temple that have been gifted by devotees over the decades.
The main prayer event for today begins at 4.30pm, if you are in the hood, come by too. Check out the Chinese street opera (Teochew) from this evening!
All are invited - note that the bamboo with the lanterns is a 'signal' to heavenly beings to come join in the festivities.
Today is the 8th day of the 7th lunar month of the Chinese calendar.
Some of you would have seen these altars around the neighbourhood...
They are set out by either individual families, or by trade and neighbourhood associations who band together to offer food and drink for the wandering 'Good Brothers' - the respectful name for those who come back to this world for a month to enjoy themselves with the entertainments available on earth.
These associations often also stage a celebratory dinner for all its members. Tiong Bahru had one last week and it is one of Singapore's oldest recorded 7th Month Celebration Associations - SIN HOCK HENG SEAH:
The red bags on the table are full of useful goods to be distributed once a year to all who subscribe to the association. These would include - Rice, Oil, Sugar, Soya Sauce etc. the necessities of life!
Entertainments that include song and dance on stage - otherwise known as Getai 歌台. If you want to find out where there is Getai each night - and it happens all round Singapore - just by the daily Chinese newspaper - Lianhe Zaobao! And often, a grand dinner and auction!
Sometimes, the offerings take place on a grander scale, such as at the Buddha Tooth Temple in South Bridge Road. Tonight, long tables of offerings were laid out. Don't think that the faith does not move with the times! One of the offerings is of french fries and chilli sauce - can you spot it in the picture?
Finally, to check out the whole programme of events to explain why and how this month is commemorated and celebrated by Chinese who believe in their traditional faith, check out the event at Kreta Ayer Square, by Chinatown Complex Market and just behind the Buddha Tooth Temple. A very informative exhibition has been put up - Hungry Ghost Festival Cultural Exhibition - Free admission.
A stilt performer playing the role of Monkey - the Heavenly Sage.
Hello!
Now that the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar is well underway, I’d better get the posting up for the last procession that was held in our neighbourhood.
Many thanks to Wai Kin for sharing his pictures of the street parade that was held to mark the birthday of the Monkey God whose temple is on Eng Hoon Street.
The temple medium as the Great Heavenly Sage, while in trance. This tradition is explained for the very first time, comprehensively, by Margaret Chan, in her ground breaking book 'Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual'. Now available at one of my favourite book shops - Select Books at Tanglin Shopping Centre.
A visiting friend from Beijing had not seen such events before back in China, and found it wonderful that we in far away Nanyang had preserved and sustained tradition in a way generally not seen back on the Mainland. See what she shared on her blog.
The devotees carrying the sacred sedan chair where the spirit of the deity is resting. It is said that the chair is lighter than normal when the deity is present in the chair.
The procession passing Chay Yan Street. The big headed doll is not so often seen these days.
By going around the estate, the procession renews the blessings of the deity to the estate. Believers see this as a form of spiritual protection for the estate. Minimally, the dances, dragons, cymbals - would create so much 'noise' - the louder the better - as the 'lau jiat' atmosphere serves to drive away all lurking spiritual baddies.
Perhaps one day, other forms of festivals and folk opera will be equally recognized. Enjoy!
There was another parade recently... posting up soon....
And its time for the annual Taoist season of taking care of the needs of the dearly departed while they return to Earth for visits.
Its a time for public altars, wayang, dinners, auctions and the burning of offerings.
If you want to find out more about the origins of this season and its celebrations, do check out the upcoming tours organised by the Chinatown Business Association.
Fellow resident, Wai Kin, caught these performers of an ancient art at last month's birthday of the Monkey God on Eng Hoon Street.
As Wai Kin says: A pity that they are not getting much audience these days - wonder how long more can these troupes keep going ...
Singapore would be a quieter and sadder place when the day comes when there is no more wayang on our streets to mark the temple festivals that, along with all our other vernacular festivals of the various ethnic and religious communities, punctuate the year....
Any ideas from anyone on how to keep this artform alive? Perhaps we can gather the ideas and send them to the National Arts Council....
If you are keen to 'chase' Chinese Temple festivals, here is a useful blog to follow - Chinese Temple Events - very useful for those who want to shoot pictures of the colourful happenings....
Many thanks to Wai Kin for sharing his photos with the blog!
