THE Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods, a Chinese festival celebrated in some 50 temples in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, culminates on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar.
Some 50,000 people thronged the Kau Ong Ya Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur over 10 days, including the eve of the first day of the festival.
The festival’s highlight, the fire-walking ceremony, is held on the evening of the ninth day of the celebration, and is performed as a rite of cosmic renewal and rebirth, or “cleansing processions”.
By walking over the fire, believers enact the victory of good over evil, while the community is cleansed by magical implication. – The Malaysian Insight, October 31, 2017.
Devotees participating in the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. By walking over the fire, believers enact the victory of good over bad, while the community is cleansed by magical implication. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Temple volunteers preparing the fire pit before the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.A temple volunteer lighting the fire pit before the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Devotees taking a leap of faith in the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Temple volunteers preparing coal before the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple. Some 100 sacks of charcoal are used to line the coal bed, which measures 7m long and 2m wide. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Temple volunteers unloading bags of coal at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Temple volunteers pounding the coal at the Nine Emperor Gods Tample in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur – The Malaysian Insight picture by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Temple volunteers putting final touches on the fire pit prior to the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Temple volunteers opening the bags of charcoal to be used in the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple.– The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Paper, joss sticks and gasoline are mixed into the pit for the fire-walking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Devotees carrying a chariot at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Devotees circling the fire-walking bed of coal prior to walking over it. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.Devotees carry religious items as they walk down the bed of hot coal at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, October 31, 2017.
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