Tag: cny

Selfie Epicenter – FGS Dong Zen Jenjarom

The selfie and posing epicenter at Dong Zen was concentrated at the area where giant roosters stood. I like how the temple made a cascading water fountain out of three large ceramic dining bowls with cockerel emblems.

The rooster bowls were significant in ancient Chinese society when agriculture played an important role. The cockerel motifs paid tribute to the rooster as a symbol of hard work, abundance, wealth, fertility and prosperity. Another cultural observation is the prominence of the colour red in wardrobe for CNY. Red symbolizes good fortune and joy.

Rain or shine, selfies go on at Dong Zen. Since its beginning more than 10 years ago, Dong Zen’s CNY themes have always incorporated a lantern and floral fest.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 200, f16, 1/200 sec.

#dongzen #fgs #jenjarom #buddhist #temple #selfie #2017 #cny #candid #rain #rooster #fountain

Selfie Paradise – FGS Dong Zen Jenjarom

The Buddhist shrine comes alive every Chinese New Year when thousands of visitors pay homage. They are attracted by the annual theme park like atmosphere created by the special CNY decor.

Every corner you will see a visitor attempting a selfie or groupfie. It will be even more interesting at night when the lights are switched on. I don’t want to stay until nightfall as it may be too many hours and too exhausting for my angelic volunteer and helper Tevanraj Elengoe.

Here; a group or family is attempting a groupfie with the camera on a tripod and self timer was used. Love how the ladies pose with fingers.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 200, f14, 1/200 sec.

#dongzen #fgs #jenjarom #banting #buddhist #temple #selfie #groupfie #2017 #cny #candid

Smoky Inside – The Guandi Temple In KL Chinatown

The Guan Di Temple (关帝庙) in Chinatown KL is a must stop for many Taoist devotees during Chinese New Year. It is also an annual pilgrimage for me as a photographer. It offers many wonderful subjects for the camera. The temple was built in 1888.

My post yesterday entitled “Those Halcyon Days (Blue Skies And Candlelight) was from this temple.

After acquiring so many shots from inside over the years, I decided to try one from outside this morning. Love the blueish, smoky interior chamber as seen through the main doorway. The smoke is from the burning joss sticks, joss papers, candles and incense spirals fired up by worshipers.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 200, f10, 1/200 sec

#chinatown #kualalumpur #chinesenewyear #temple #taoism #kuanti #guandi

Understanding The Chinese Psyche

It is a Hokkien (Fujian dialect) term you will hear a lot during Chinese New Year. It goes with the Chinese obsession with prosperity and luck in the form of riches via a windfall. Chinese folks like to gamble, be it at home card games, on mahjong tables or at casinos. So “huat” is like a clarion call and a good luck greeting.

It is not exclusive to Chinese New Year, though. I remember when the deities at the Nine Emperor Gods festival were paraded, every joss stick toting devotee was shouting “Huat Ah!” at the top of their lungs. So was the crowd when the ominous looking Hell Keeper’s deity was lifted for burning during Por Tor or the climax of the Hungry Ghost month.
Huat means ‘to prosper’ as in Fatt in Cantonese. So Huat Ah!

Sony A7R, ISO 160, f4, 1/250 sec

#culture #custom #chinese #hokkien #fujian #huat #prosper #neg #twilight #sunset