It was raining heavily in the afternoon. I suppose it was that time of the year again. It always rains when Taiping celebrates the Nine Emperor Gods festival, Kew Ong Ya, we call it; and yesterday, it probably delayed the big procession that was planned for the night. A friend told me it didn't start until nine and that was about the time I was in town. So, for the first after many years, I got to see the procession and witness harmony at work; harmony, because over ninety temples; not just from around Taiping, but from Pantai Remis and Penang too; came together to provide floats for the occasion. And while the Nine Emperor Gods festival is a Taoist festival, Buddhist temples and even the temple of the Hindu Goddess Devi Arulnigum participated. Procession of this nature isn't very important in Buddhism, I suppose; but to be able to live with others, respecting each other should be a priority, shouldn't it?
Can you spot the float from the Indian temple?
Comments