The Grandiest Lantern Festival of all Time in S1BU.

(Photo: The Back drop of the Launching of the Lantern Festival)

This year the Lantern Festival Celebration in S1Bu will going to be a very special one. Why? Last Saturday, 26th of September 2009 (one week before the lantern festival day), Sibu Municipal Council, Kutien Association, Chinese Temple jointly lighted up the newly installed 7000 lanterns hanging at the compound of Oldest Chinese "Eng Ann " Temple ,along the Old Street, Channel Road , Chinese Temple road until the Sibu Gateway covering a total distant of 1.5 to 2 km.


(Photo: the Grand Old S1BU pride- the "Kwan Ing" Pagoda)

The beginning of the Lantern line up, you could see the lighted up of a Dragon Head (at the temple), followed by the streets lined with lanterns and ended at the Sibu Gateway (the tail of the Dragon) with the S1BU mascot-the Swan (or the Phoenix).

(Photo: Dragon Head)

(Photo: Dragon Head)

(Photo: Lantern brightly lighted a long Chinese Chamber Street)

(Photo: along Channel Road)

(Photo: at the Sibu Gateway (the end of the lantern)

(Photo: at Sibu Gateway)

(Photo: 1CEO(SMC) Mr. Hii Chang Kee with Friend (a blogger too))

(Photo: Our Magnificent S1bu Mascot, the Swan or Phoenix)

(Photo: This is something outside the Lantern Festival, a "special dragon" which they said is the big brother of all dragons having Dragon head, Tortoise body and Phoenix craws. This was found sitting at the main Stage during the Festival launching)

This is a Malaysian Book of Record (unofficial) and another S1BU boleh!! The Organisers said that this will be made an annual event and the next one will be better.(What's about creating a Guinness Book of Record ?)

From the National News , Our 1Malaysia, our PM had announced that the Government will be giving a grant of a quarter Million to the Organisers (NGOs) of the KL lantern Festival and it would be good if the state government could give a grant for the S1Bu Lantern Festival too. What's do you think?

For those Chinese educated, you might be wondering why the back drop of the launching ceremony mentioned is the launching of the 1st Borneo Lantern Festival and from the start, why I don't mention it's the 1st Borneo lantern Festival ? Well, felt that it would be better if it is call the 1st Sibu Lantern Festival but ........I think "Borneo" more marketable.

More goodies will be distributed during the actual date of the Lantern Festival or Moon Cake Festival on the 3rd of October 2009 (as reported in the local dailies) that about 8000 lanterns will be distributed free to the public. (Organisers! what's about distributing free Moon Cakes?) Come in group & Get your lantern and Feel the mood.

A very Happy lantern or Moon Cake festival to all.

The 3rd September 2009 in S1BU.

What's so special about 3rd of September of 2009? but, if look at the Chinese calender is the 15th day of the 7 month of the year where the devoted Buddhists celebrated the "Zhongyuan Jie/Yu Lan Hui" or the Chinese All Souls' Day. I'm sure that the Buddhists around the world do celebrate this special occasion to commemorate the dead & nameless, homeless ones.

In S1bu, the large temple like Eng Ann Temple, "Par Wan Kun" , "Tan Hua Hu" celebrated in a grand scale with at least a few hundred devotees. Plentiful of Food, paper monies, paper items ( like paper big vehicles , boats, many luxurious items) to be burn & offer to the dead. Monks from outside were called in to do the rituals.

(Photo: Monks doing the Chanting)

The followings are the pictures taken during the Celebration ..........


(Photo: Food line up on the floor)

(Photo: Paper monies and ready to offer to the dead & homeless)

(Photo: Main Alter with the display of the "Black Gold")

(Photo: A smaller alter for the Gods)

(Photo : Offering)

(Photo: Organisers at Work)



(Photo: Night Fall, candle lighted up with the Food)


(Photo: Closer View of the Offering)

(Photo: These 2 were Goodies for the Living...the "Black Gold".)


(Photo: another view of the "black Gold")

The "Black Gold", in fact is the charcoal which was offered during this festival and this was the much sought item by the devotee which might bring them plenty of good luck & prosperity the whole year thro' if kept in the house. These "Black Gold" supposed to be given to all the devotees but isn't the case. Why? What's do you think?

(Photo: After the offering, the living going after the Food and believed if consumed

will bring the Peace & Luck)


(Photo: Another Scene of the action)


(Photo: Still in action)


(Photo: Another Scene)

The Celebration ended in the early evening with the offerings gone in a few minutes and understood that this expenses is about RM 10,000.00 or little more.What's a celebration!! it's good to remember the nameless & homeless but what's about the living who are homeless??