Dragon ‘guards’ descend on pagoda temple
Impressive size: Workers covering the frame of a replica dragon with silk gauze.
FOUR colourful dragons are being assembled at the 121-year-old Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Penang, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.
Two of them, each measuring at a jumbo size of about 36.5m (120ft) in length, flank both sides of the temple’s famous pagoda.
The other two smaller dragons at about 4.5m (15ft) each, will be put up near the 30.2m bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue.
Workers were seen racing against time to test the lighting and also cover the “dragons” with silk gauze and nets of different colours.
A jumbo-sized dragon replica encircling part of the wall around the Kek Lok Si temple in Air Itam in Penang.
A contractor worker, Lee Soon Huat said they started assembling the frames of the dragons in early December and took three weeks to complete.
“We will also fix glittering LED bulbs on the ‘bones’ of the dragons. We’ll need at least 10 more days to complete all the work,” he said while covering the head of one of the dragons with silk gauze yesterday.
Other than that, the temple was also decorated with bright red and yellow lanterns.
Temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said the lighting ceremony would be held on the evening of Jan 19 before the Chinese New Year celebration on Jan 23 and 24.
“From then on, the lighting will be switched on every night until Feb 19,” he said.
Like in previous years, devotees can donate from RM50 to RM2,000 for the lanterns which are for the temple’s upkeep.
Devotees and well-wishers can visit the temple to register.
For details, call 04-8283317. [News link]
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Posted by admin on January 9, 2012 under Tourism News.
