RITUALS FOR A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS YEAR AT THE TEMPLE

Here is more information about my visit to the Seen Hock Yeen Temple in Chemor.  I will be blogging about the rituals that were held at the temple for a safe and prosperous year ahead.

The visitors to the temple get to listen to Sister Yoke (the founder) give a talk about how the temple came to be and also other interesting information about the deities and rituals.  The visitors are requested to buy a packet of sandal wood which will be used as offerings to Kuan Yin before they cross the bridge at the temple to cast bad luck away.

Sister Yoke instructing the visitors on how to pray to Tai Sui for blessings and protection. 

After the introduction by Sister Yoke, the visitors would offer their prayers to the other deities under the guidance of another temple volunteer.

Visitors offering their prayers to the Jade Emperor at a temple built in His honour within the grounds of Seen Hock Yeen Temple.

Praying to Kuan Yin

The visitors leave their packets of sandalwood which will be offered to the Goddess later on.

A statue of Kuan Yin with her disciples, the Golden Boy and Jade Girl.

Statues of the Animal Zodiacs at the temple.

One of the Buddhas at the temple.

Crossing the bridge to cast away bad luck.  One must not look to the right as by doing so they would be saddled with bad luck and misfortune. 

The temple at the other side of the bridge which is dedicated to another goddess.

The altar of the Goddess in the temple.

Visitors throwing coins into a fountain to wish for good luck, good health, longevity and prosperity.After tossing money into the fountain for good luck, the visitors return to the temple where they get to beat a drum.  They will also be given 2 mandarin oranges and a red packet with RM1 for good luck.  The visitors are to eat the mandarins and keep the red packet in their wallets or purses to act as their capital to build their fortune. 

After that the visitors, go to the front of the temple and open the box listed with their own Zodiac Signs.  They are to take two dates and eat them.  Eating the dates would ensure that they be protected and blessed by Tai Sui for the whole year.

At the inner sanctum of the temple, is the altar for Confucius.  On the altar is a tray of sweets.  Each visitor is to take two sweets after paying their respects to Confucius.  Visitors were told that the sweets were blessed and by taking them students would have more concentration and also better thinking skills.  The adults would also be more sharp-minded.

The children and teenagers were told to crawl under the table three times to receive more blessings from Confucius.

My mum taking two dates from the box with her Zodiac Sign written on it.  One must eat the dates immediately.

After the rituals were carried out, visitors were told to proceed to the dining hall where they would be served with drinks and cake.  No need to pay.  Compliments of the temple.