GEORGE TOWN, Feb 4 – More than 10,000 devotees attended Jade Emperor Birthday Celebration, who know as Thiⁿ-kong Seh, at Chew Jetty in Weld Quay here this evening together with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. 36.5m-long altar was set up and food offerings were placed on the table for the deity while giant dragon joss sticks were also burned.
A downpour started at about 10.30pm on Saturday when the devotees started their prayers but it did not dissolve devotees whom came from other parts of the country. At the stroke of midnight, fireworks and firecrackers light up the night skies as devotees offer prayers to the Jade Emperor.
Joanna and Mayan, who from China, said they were happy to visit Penang. They said now a day, less devotees celebrate Thiⁿ-kong Seh in China. They said they like the atmosphere in Penang which all the devotees come together to celebrate the tradition to pray for peace and health on the eighth day of Chinese New Year.
Chew Jetty Kongsi chairman Chew Choon Seng said this was the 110th year the residents of the clan jetty had held a mass Jade Emperor Birthday Celebration. Among those at the Chew Jetty celebration with Lim were Padang Kota assemblyman Chow Kon Yeow and Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik.
In additional, Barisan Nasional politicians also joined the devotees at Chew Jetty. They were included Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, Penang MCA secretary Dr Tan Chuan Hong, Komtar MCA task force chief Tan Hing Teik, Padang Kota MCA task force chief Lim Swee Bok and Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Oh Tong Keong.
