Festival of the Heavenly God or Jade Emperor (9th day of the Chinese lunar calendar) - Hokkien New Year
This festival starts on the early morning of the 9th day of the Chinese lunar calendar (after midnight of the 8th day). It is the most important spring festival for the Hokkiens (mainly descendants from Fujian province, China), a celebration which is celebrated widely by the Buddhist and Taoists Chinese in Malaysia. The celebration marks the birthday of the Jade Emperor or Guardian or Heavenly God, who lives in the centre of the universe – according to Taoism. According to the Buddhist tradition, the 9th day of the first Chinese lunar month is the Birthday of Sakra (lord of gods or devas, also in Hindism). The most important offering for the Hokkien clan/ community is 'kam chia' or suger cane. (Read story below)
In Penang, this festival is celebrated with in a grand scale, and can be observed at the Clan Jetties, near the ferry terminal (see map of George Town). The height of celebration starts near midnight on the 8th day of the Chinese lunar calendar. Prayers and offering are made to the god in front of the homes of many Chinese in the country (Photo: typical offerings to in homes). Houses are usually brightly lit on this night. There is usually fireworks on a feast after the prayers.
Story of the Hokkien clan and prominance of the sugar can plant:
During the Song Dynasty (Mongol dynasty) most of the clans in Southern China (Fujian, Henan, Zhejiang) were heavily repressed and lived under great fear of the Mongols. The Hokkien clan were constantly at the mercy of the Mongols who attacked and hunted them, because the Hokkiens are seen a threat to the empire.
The Hokkiens then fled to the Henan province where sugarcane plantations were in abundance. Though many were killed by the pursuing Mongols, a group of Hokkiens managed to hide hemselves among the sugarcane plants. The pursuing Mongols searched the area for days but never located the remaining Hokkiens.
The Mongols eventually gave up and returned to their base. On the ninth day of the Chinese calendar, the Hokkiens happily emerged from their hideout praising the celestial deities for saving them and believed that the Heavenly God had protected them. Thus, from then on, in all Hokkien celebrations, the sugarcane plant is given special prominence.
That is why the Ninth day is regarded as the day of salvation by the Hokkien community. As offering to the Heavenly God, a pair of sugarcane plants is usually placed, one on each side of the offering table. The pair symbolises unity, cooperation and strength. Sugarcane symbolises harmony, which brings all good outcome. The straightness of the sugarcane stems to ensure that the Hokkiens become a clan of honest and sincere people; the cane stalk with multiple nodes symbolises continuous growth.