GEORGE TOWN, Jan 26 — After more than a year of not allowing devotees to gather due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Penang’s iconic 131-year-old Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam will host the annual lighting-up ceremony this Friday in the presence of visitors and devotees.
The temple will be transformed into a fairyland of lights with over 10,000 traditional Chinese lanterns, thousands of modern neon and LED lights to usher in the Chinese New Year (CNY) next Tuesday.
Kek Lok Si Temple trustee, Datuk Seri Steven Ooi said the 12.1-hectare temple area was able to accommodate the crowd, as temple staff would also be in full force to help maintain the standard operating procedure (SOP).
He said the temple would be illuminated all the way up to the 33.6m-tall Kuan Yin statue and pavilion throughout the Chinese New Year festive period from Jan 28 until Feb 28.
“The official CNY lighting ceremony at the foot of the Pagoda will only allow invited guests, to maintain the SOP, but other areas at the temple are open to the public. The ceremony will also be streamed online for those who can’t join us on the day.
“For the blessing ceremony, devotees can give their name to be lit on lanterns around the temple for 32 days. The temple will provide Dharma assemblies to bless them from Feb 15 to 28,” he told reporters at the temple here today.
However, Ooi urged devotees and visitors who planned to visit the temple to strictly comply with the SOP, and avoid crowding while admiring the temple’s structures.
“We are grateful that this year, we are allowed to welcome devotees and visitors,” he said.
Situated strategically on a sprawling hill in Jalan Air Itam, Kek Lok Si is known as the jewel in the crown of heritage temples in Malaysia, and has been identified as one of the largest and finest temple complexes in Southeast Asia.
The scenic view of the hills outside the temple complements the temple’s exquisitely designed rooflines and exotic pillars, further enhancing the picturesque facade of the Kek Lok Si Buddhist Monastery.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency