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By ROYCE TAN
Photos by CHIN CHENG YEANG and GARY CHEN

Bedazzled: Visitors at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang marvel at the festive lights and fireworks

A BEDAZZLING sea of lights has turned the 121-year-old Kek Lok Si temple in Air Itam, Penang, into a fairyland.

The temple was glowing with festive cheer at the official lighting ceremony. To add to the magical sight, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky.

Thousands of visitors were in awe when hundreds of thousands of decorative bulbs and red and yellow lanterns were switched on at 8pm.

Sparkling shower: A cascade of fireworks bursting at the Kek Lok Si Temple after the official lighting up ceremony

Before that, a ceremony which included the chanting of Dharma verses and the offering of incense and joss sticks to deities was led by temple abbot Rev Datuk Seri Seck Jit Heng.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who officiated the lighting ceremony on Thursday, commended the temple for its efforts.

“I told them to start with the ceremony first, as Buddha is more important than a Chief Minister,” he quipped after arriving late as his flight was delayed.

Among the dignitaries present were Lim’s wife Betty Chew, state Barisan Nasional working committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Gerakan vice-president Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye and temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi.

Rev Seck thanked devotees and the public for their continuous support to the temple, and the Penang Government for its assistance and support in overcoming obstacles in its bid to construct its new car park.

He added that the temple spent about RM500,000 on the lighting and decoration.

“We want to ensure tourists don’t have to face any parking problems when they visit the temple.

Heavenly glow: Some of the thousands of red and yellow lanterns hung up to usher in the Lunar New Year

“The garden car park is also suitable for tourist buses,” he said.

At the lighting ceremony, the temple also gave out RM50,000 to nine charitable organisations.

The main crowd puller at the temple would have to be the two enormous celestial ‘dragons’ guarding the majestic pagoda.

The figures measure 48m (158ft) each and are covered with colourful silk gauze, with the frames filled with glittering LED bulbs.

The ‘dragons’ were the brilliant idea of Rev Seck, and took more than one month to assemble.

Seen amazed by the dragons were Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) undergraduates Soo Kein Eng, Woo Pei Mah and Loh Chee Hoo, all 22.

Woo, from Cameron Highlands, said she was fascinated by how beautiful the combination of lights were.

“Today is the last day of our exams, so we thought of having a small celebration.

“The trip here to observe the lighting ceremony is worth the while,” said Soo who is heading back to his hometown in Selangor for the Lunar New Year.

Two smaller ‘dragons’ measuring 12m (40ft) each are stationed near the temple’s famous bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue, towering at 33.67m.

Iridescent sight: The Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam all aglow to usher in the Year of the Water Dragon

An IT business developer who only wished to be identified as Sasha, 37, from Kuala Lumpur, said he was wowed by the lights.

“We initially planned to come here just to see the Goddess of Mercy statue.

“We were lucky to come here at night for this extra eye candy,” said Sasha.

He was in Penang with his Iranian relatives — mother-in-law Nellie Nikdokar, 35, uncle Mohamad Jafar, 55, and aunt Farahnaz Ahmad, 46.

Another USM undergraduate Margeret Lim Cheng Ee, 20, said she was thrilled by the enchanting sight.

“I feel that the lights are nicer this year, especially the purple and pink colours,” said Lim who has been in Penang for the past five years.

From the eve (tomorrow) until the third day of Chinese New Year (Wednesday), the lanterns at the pagoda and the pavilion will be lit from evening until the next morning.

The temple will be open from 8.30am till midnight from the first day until the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebration on Jan 31.

After Jan 31, the temple will be open from 8.30am to 10pm until Feb 19. [News link]

Posted by admin on January 22, 2012 under Tourism Event.