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| Nine Emperor Gods (Kew Ong Yeah) |
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| Beihai Doumu Palace Bukit Mertajam, Penang |
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| Dragon Fountain with water pouring out of Dragon mouth |
Kew Ong Yeah (Nine Emperor Gods) Festival, Malaysia Sept 26 > Oct 4 2022
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| Beihai Doumu Palace Bukit Mertajam, Penang |
On the eve of the Ninth month of the Chinese calendar, many Chinese worshippers from South East Asia celebrates the Nine Emperor God Festival. This year the festival falls on Monday Sept 26 & last for 9 days till Oct 4 2022.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there were not much activities ie grand parade or street procession to celebrate the Nine Emperor Gods festival (Kew Ong Yeah) in a full scale during the last 2 years (2020 & 2021), but for the Sept 2022 festival, all events associated with Kew Ong Yeah would be held as usual like in pre-pandemic times ! The Kew Ong Yeah temples will be open around the clock. However, all devotees are encouraged to wear masks or do a self test to ensure they are negative before coming to the temple !
The festival pays homage to the Goddess of the North Star, believed to control the Books of Life & Death. Devotees believe the gods came through the waterways & processions are usually held from temples to to a river or seashore as a symbolic gesture.
The display board of Beihai Doumu Palace has a listing of of daily events / activities commencing midnight Day 27 of the 8th lunar month (Sept 22 2022) to mid-day Day 10 of the 9th lunar month (Oct 5 2022) ! The float procession will take place on Sept 30 at 7pm (unfortunately our group was unable to witness this grand event as our stay was for only 2 nights in Bukit Mertajam ie Sept 23 & 24). But our group's members were able to get a feel of the festive atmosphere & mood & witnessed some hive of activities on this annual Kew Ong Yeah festival on sites in Chinese temples during our group's visit to Bukit Mertajam, Penang & Alor Setar, Kedah !
Day 1 Friday (TGIF) Sept 23 2022 (the number 23 is pronounced as "easy to live" in Cantonese) - our group 1st day in Bukit Mertajam - so just relaxed, did our Jalan Jalan (Walkabout) in Beihai Doumu Palace, Butterworth Art Walk, Dewan Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi; Makan Makan (Eating) in Medan Selera WR for a meal of yam rice & pork leg in black vinegar & Tidur Tidur (Sleeping) in a homestay bungalow house in Taman Jaya, Bukit Mertajam - a great start for our group's 4th Cuti Cuti Malaysia trip in my beloved country, Malaysia ! Another of KM's RTM (Rehat, Tidur & Makan ie in English means Rest, Sleep & Eat) style of free & easy travelling when overseas or in my home country backyard ! Also, a big thank you to 4 of my travel buddies who have contributed one way or another to the planning (also make things happen) in this KISS (Keep It Simple & Sweet) trip to northern Peninsula states of Perak, Penang, Kedah & Alor Setar !
This was my 1st visit to Doumu Gong & an eye opener, no doubt our group was at the right place & at the right time of the year ! What a great start for our 1st day in Bukit Mertajam & a fruitful visit !
2) Beihai Doumu Palace by Day - a grand Buddhist temple in Bukit Mertajam, a must see & visit !
3) Beihai Doumu Palace by Night - a starry starry night on Friday (Thank God Is Friday) !
4) Kew Ong Yeah & the Main Complex
5) Gods of Guard - a common deity in Chinese traditional belief, these deities are either painted or pasted on the main entrance facing the street in Chinese temple, it is believed that they protect against evil spirit, bad motives & negative energy !
6) Four Great Heavenly Kings - Four Buddhist gods, each of whom is believed to watch over one cardinal direction of the world, in Chinese mythology, they are known collectively as the "Feng Tiao Yu Shun" literally means "Good Climate".
7) Dragon figurine roofs - sculpted ridges with dragon figurines painted in vibrant colors, these figures are traditionally used to decorate Chinese imperial roof tops.
8) Dragon figurine stone column pillars - colorful dragon statutes wrapped around the pillars, dragon statutes rising from the ground etc
9) Impressive wall murals, paintings & artwork of deities, goddess, Chinese dragon, birds, animals etc
10) Doumu Niang Niang - the mother goddess of the Big Dipper stars.
11) Sculpture of dragon fountain with water pouring out of dragon mouth - a great Instagram spot !
12) Statues of Chinese guardian lions or imperial guardian lions also known as stone lions or Shishi thought to protect the building from harmful spiritual influence !
13) Emperor boats, colorful floats, horse figurines to be used in the night parade & street procession during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Kew Ong Yeah).
14) Butterworth Art Walk - been there done that !
15) Dewan Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi, Jalan Kampung Gajah, Bagan Luar, Butterworth, Penang - an evening stroll before retiring to bed !
16) Makan Makan (Eating) - our group's dinner in Medan Selera WR, Bukit Mertajam - all of us had an enjoyable dinner in this Food Court, ie savouring a bowl of yam rice (Rm2) + pork leg in vinegar (Rm8) = Rm10 (US$2.10) & others ordered fried Kway Teow (Rm5) & popiah (a treat from K F Wong). This was after a productive visit to Beihai Doumu Palace, located within walking distance from the Medan Selera WR Food Court.
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| Yam Rice + Pork Leg in Vinegar Rm8 (US$1.70) |
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| Fried Kway Teow Rm5 (US$1.05) |
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| Sushi Rolls (A treat from KF Wong) |
17) Hotel Accommodation - our group's 2 nights homestay in Persiaran Kuari, Taman Jaya, Bukit Mertajam Tel 018-5797270, Room tariff (twin bed room) Rm70 (US$14.70) per night
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