Penang 9 Emperor Gods Festival

Every year Chinese Lunar Calender month nine day 1 to day 9, Penang going to have an important festival that most Penangites engaged, celebrated and followed. These 9 days, many devotees will go on vegetarian diet. There are many vegetarian stalls along the streets that served the devotees.

Each year there were many floats, all richly decorated and full of colored lights, which slowly moved through the streets of Georgetown’s historic center to finally reach the Weld Quay on the eastern waterfront of the town (in the photo above one of the floats).

Together with the floats a number of devotees processed along: some in a state of trance, some whipping the air with weaved whips, some with very long spears stuck into their cheeks. All around firecrackers, drums, singers, dragons and an immense crowd revering the procession. At the end, the procession arrived at the waterfront and in a surge of energy and loud noises the devotees were removed the spears and floats were sent off in the water.

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Penang Loi Krathong@Wat Chaiya Mangalaram

Loi Krathong (or Loy Krathong, Thai: ลอยกระทง) is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand, certain parts of Laos and Malaysia. Penang is celebrated on the full moon of the 12th Lunar month in which devotees pray to the Water Goddess as well as repent for what they have done.

Loi Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. "Loi" means "to float" and a "Krathong" is a raft, about a hand span in diameter, traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk. A raft has been developed to be made of bread or sometimes made of styrofoam.

The reason for using bread is to protect the environment,since having many rafts in the river can create a huge water pollution problem. Bread will eventually become food for fish and other animals in the river. Even though banana leaves are biodegradable, it takes longer to be degraded than a bread. Therefore, bread is the most environmental friendly choice to make a raft whereas foam is not recommended at all. A raft is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc..

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Penang Deepavali Open House 2010

Date: 5th Nov 2010
Venue: Little India, Penang
Organizer: Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Penang
Tel: 04-2620960

A colorful festival that is celebrated by all Hindus worldwide is Deepavali, which is also known as the festival of lights.
Hindus will light oil lamps in their homes on Deepavali morning. It's a way of thanking gods for the happiness, knowledge, peace and wealth.

The Hindus consider Deepavali as one of the most important festivals to celebrate.

It is a Public Holiday in Penang, Malaysia.

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The Nine Emperor Gods Festival 九皇爺

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Chinese: 九皇爺; pinyin: Káu-ông-iâ; Cantonese: Kow Wong Yeh) is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and also the Riau Islands.

Every year, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is held for nine days of the Chinese 9th lunar month (Usually in early October). This is when the spirit of the Gods, which are believed to dwell in the stars descend to earth and possess the spirit mediums, putting them on a trance. Legends has it that the Gods are the sons of Dao Mo.

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