Preparing for Jade Emperor God's birthday celebration

The celebration for Chinese New Year last up to 15 days.

For the Hokkiens, the ninth day is the most important day of the Chinese New Year, even more important than 1st day of New Year itself. It is also called the Hokkien New Year. The Hokkiens will pray to Jade Emperor God with offerings of sugar cane because during the Ming Dynasty, the Hokkiens hid in sugar cane fields to escape from being massacred by their enemies who looked for them for several days. When the enemies finally left, they emerged from the fields and it was also the ninth day of the new year. The sugar cane saved their lives so when they came out alive, and, in gratitude, the only thing they could offer to the Jade Emperor in thanksgiving was sugar cane.

The morning market at SEA Park in Petaling Jaya today Monday, February 2, 2009 was a hive of activity with hordes of people snapping up stalks of sugar canes and other must-have items such as ang koo (red tortoise buns), mee koo (red-coloured buns), huat kuih (prosperous cakes) and prayer paraphernalia needed for the Jade Emperor God’s birthday celebration which falls tomorrow, the ninth day of the Chinese New Year.

Choosing a pair of sugar cane, which must be complete stalks from roots to shoots, at the wet market in SEA Park, Jalan 21/17, Petaling Jaya. The sugar cane is a must-have item needed for the Jade Emperor God's celebration.


Stalks of sugar cane with roots and all lined Jalan 21/17 at the SEA Park wet market.


A pair of sugar canes is a must-have in offering the prayers for Jade Emperor God's birthday.


You can also get your sugar canes stalks at Perniagaan Sin Hup in Jalan 21/22, SEA Park.


This couple putting a pair of sugar cane stalks into their car in preparation for the Jade Emperor birthday.


Must-haves food items such as ang koo (red tortoise buns) selling at the stalls outisde SEA Park wet market.


Other must-haves include huat kuih (prosperous cakes) and mee koo (red-coloured buns) are also on sale at the stalls.


Giant-sized joss sticks to be burned during the Jade Emperor God birthday celebration are on sale at Kedai Meng Hoe in Jalan 21/19, SEA Park. At the stroke of midnight today, the Hokkiens will give prayers of thanks to the Jade Emperor God, also known as the God of Heaven.


Big joss papers known as Ti-Kong-Kim are folded into elaborate shapes and other prayer paraphernalia for the Jade Emperor God's birthday celebration are also on sale at Kedai Meng Hoe.


The Sun Lee Heng stall at SEA Park wet market in Jalan 21/17 is also selling prayer paraphernalia for Jade Emperor God's birthday celebration.


Temple committees and volunteers helping to put up the banner for the Jade Emperor God's birthday celebration which falls tomorrow Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at Yoke Wong Thai Tay temple in Jalan 21/22, SEA Park, Petaling Jaya. Worshippers will begin offering prayers at the temple from 8.00 pm onwards once evening sets in on the eve of the birthday.