Celebrating Chinese New Year at Kek Lok Si Temple
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is an incredibly festive celebration observed by an estimated 2 billion people, worldwide. In Penang, the Kek Lok Si Temple stands as one of the prominent destinations for locals, and tourists, to usher in the New Year with festivities, and one ridiculous light show.
As one of Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temples, Kek Lok Si Temple is very important to it’s followers, which is very evident based on the amount of Buddhists who visit the temple this time of year. Located at the base of Air Hitam Mountain, perched on a hill behind a small village, it’s not an easy place to get in and out of during the Chinese New Year festivities. This year, Deborah and I braved the cars and the crowds and made our way up to this awesome temple.
One Amazing Temple
Kek Lok Si Temple is a blend of traditional Chinese architecture, stunning sculptures, and breathtaking views. Approximately 120 years old, the iconic temple, which is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, acts as a place of pilgrimage for Malaysian Buddhists, and Buddhists in countries all over Asia.
While the temple can seem a bit gaudy to some who see it all lit up during CNY, if you visit the temple during the daytime most of the year, it’s just a magnificent site to see. It’s also a lot easier to visit the temple outside of the lead up to, and during CNY, but it’s typically not open in the evening the rest of the year.
One of the first things you notice as you approach Kek Lok Si, is the the truly majestic seven-tiered Pagoda of Rama VI, which is a central highlight of the temple complex. You can literally see this Pagoda from many miles away, and we couldn’t wait to see it up close. As we made our way underneath the soaring Deity, with strings of red lanterns going in every direction, it was beyond impressive.
Festive Time of Year to Eat and Celebrate
During Chinese New Year, Kek Lok Si Temple becomes a vibrant hub of religious activities and cultural practices. Buddhists offer prayers, seek blessings, and pay homage to their ancestors during this time. The setting is festive, and full of ceremonies and rituals, such as the lighting of joss sticks, the ringing of bells, and the burning of incense.
Another staple of Chinese New Year celebrations is the exhilarating lion dance. The sound of beating drums echoes throughout the temple, as the acrobatic lions dance and leap in synchronized harmony. These performances are believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits, adding an energetic and festive spirit to the celebrations..
Don’t Get Hangry
On your way into Kek Lok Si, you will pass Pasar Awam Air Hitam. Public Market of Air Hitam being the direct translation, it houses various markets and hawker stalls. On the corner of the left turn you make off of Jalan Paya Terubung road to go up to the temple, sits the fabulous Air Hitam Asam Laksa. This simple little stand makes one awesome dish, Asam Laksa. Made famous to expats by Anthony Bourdain’s visit to the stall over 10 years ago, the Laksa has been well-known to Malaysians for decades. After working up an appetite walking Kek Lok Si, which is vast and involves multiple steep hills and stairs, we suggest you pull a Bourdain and sit down for a nice hearty bowl of Laksa, and a cold Tiger beer.
