gallery
Scenes from the Nine Emperor Gods festival
03 Oct 2014 — The Nine Emperor Gods festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is observed primarily in Southeast Asia. It is celebrated to usher the nine sons of Tou Mu, goddess of the North Star, who controls the books of life and death. Also known as Kew Ong Yeah, the festival is celebrated nationwide in Malaysia. It begins with welcoming the Nine Emperor, followed by a spear-skewering ceremony and a procession of floats. It ends with a send-off of the gods to the sea on the last day.
A devotee walks barefoot across embers to test his faith during the festival at the Kew Ong Yeah temple in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
The crowd watches a traditional dance performance at Jalan Telaga Air in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Devotees pour gasoline on themselves as they prepare for the ‘walk of fire’ on the last day of the festival in Kuala Lumpur. During the celebration, temples are packed with worshippers, while hawkers seize the opportunity to sell religious items outside the temple. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
A devotee in trance is been pierced through the cheek at Kew Ong Yeah temple before joining the float around Butterworth on the fourth day of Nine Emperor Gods festival. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Worshippers prostrate while a carriage passes above them during the procession around Butterworth. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
A devotee is being helped to join the procession around Butterworth. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
People watch a devotee being pierced through the cheek at the Kew Ong Yeah temple in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Floats seen along Jalan Telaga Air in Butterworth, Penang, on September 28, 2014. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
A procession is seen in conjunction with the festival at Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Devotees run barefoot across mounds of burning coal to test their faith at the Kew Ong Yeah temple in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
A man burns a paper horse as an offering to the nine emperor gods at the Kew Ong Yeah temple in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Devotees pray at Pantai Bersih beach in Butterworth during the send-off ceremony on the last day of the festival. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Devotees burn offerings to the gods during the send-off ceremony on last day of the festival at Pantai Bersih, in Butterworth, Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 3, 2014.
Devotees crush charcoal on the last day of the festival in Kuala Lumpur. Also a common sight at temples is Chinese operas held to appease the gods, who are said to control the prosperity and health of worshippers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
A devotee prays during the last day of the festival in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufar, October 3, 2014.
A devotee burns joss sticks on the last day of the festival in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
Devotees put joss sticks on a bed of charcoals on the last day of the Nine Emperor Gods festival in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
Worshippers walk on a bed of hot charcoals a sign of devotion at the festival in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
A man prays during the last day of the festival in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
A devotee’s leg is seen covered with charcoal while preparing to walk on a bed of embers on the last day of the festival in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 3, 2014.
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments