Chor 8 means the eighth day of chinese new year. Bai tian gong (BTG)means that Tian Gong'S birthday we need to pray. BTG is a more important than the first day of chinese new year in the tradition og Hokkien folks. Most of the businessmen were doing the prayers in order to improve their business in the coming year. Since Taiping was a town full of Hokkien Lang so BTG was a very precious event in Taiping. Almost every house celebrating it. Fireworks all over the sky just like the new year eve (01/01). Firecrackers cracked in front of everybody house until the police dunno which house to summon.
My uncle was burning the joss stick getting ready for the prayer.
Many things were ready for the prayer. Whole roasted pig was one of the hightlight. Even Yee Shang was on the table for the prayer. Fruits are the neccessity on the praying table.
Whole roasted pig cost rm760. Later the pig will divided into many parts in order every can get a piece of pork. The roasted pork was crispy enough and it is perfect match with special made chilli sauces. The bottom right were some pink breads. Normally no one will eat this after the prayers because it was tasteless like normal bread. My mom will collect some go home and cookes french toast with it. It was awesome compare to normal Gardenier French toast.
Building up the golden mountain was one of the task performed by the whole family before the prayer. Everyone will gather in front of the house and start stacking up the folded golden praying money.
The mountain was ready. Shot from different angles. People said the higher the mountain, the more money you can earn. So, everyone was trying to build their mountain higher than other people in order to earn moner $$$.
This was what happened to the golden mountain we built earlier. We need to burn it. I not so sure this is for what purpose. We just follow only.
Firecrackers on the way. Please beware. Danger ahead.
Photo shooting session with the fireworks. What happened if the firecrakers suddenly start craking when I was holding it?
Cover your ear please. That was too loud!!!!
Time to Lou Shang again. This is my 8th time lou shang. Lou till sien jor!!!
2ND aunty was the only one who know how to cut the whole pig. It wasn't an easy jobs and it need a lot of experience and also energy. Some sweats were coming down from her forehead showed that this was an exhausting activity.
Chines New year going to end soon. Everybody was going to back to their own place to start their job and studies again. Blue Monday aheas waiting for us.
Two days before Valentine days, I had travelled almost 300km all the way north to my hometown - Taiping. I tried to get back earlier ( 2 days before CNY) to avoid the massive congestion on the highway. The jam was already there waiting for me to be part of them. FML!!! Trapped in the jam queue starting from Sungkai. Luckily, the jam didn't last long. Smoother way starting from Ipoh way back to Taiping.
CNY jam always be the biggest fear of the driver. Energy saping journey made me yawn all the way to Taiping. Please don't follow the car in front too close to avoid tragedy happen. Do not snap picture while you was driving, that was dangerous man!!!
Reunion dinner was one of the most important event during the CNY. Everyone will be gathering along and had a dinner together with some fancy homemade dishes.
Here were some dishes that my 2nd aunty prepare. Every year, she will be the head chef in charge all the food and beverage during the whole CNY. Thousand of thank you appointed to her. The taste of the food was awesome but the most important things was all the family members from all over the countries can sit together to enjoy the wonderful moment. Who knows whether tomorrow, one year later, two years later, three years later we still can gather in the same place having dinner again. Strong relationship between the family members are the most precious gift from the god. Please appreciates your love one.
Praying section was on the way in the midnight. The prayer was a welcome party of the god of prosperity (cai shen). Hope that everyone making good money for the coming new year.
The bottom left dish given a name of Handful of Gold basically made by a pork knuckles mixing with Huat cai, mushroom, green beans and carrots. Oily porky knuckles was a great match with the topping sauces. Hope people who consumed it had a great win in some illegal betting throughout the CNY.
The above dish was this year special named Five happiness. Normally, you can try this food out in any of the chinese restaurant in Malaysia. This dish was formed from five different dishes (5 in 1 package). But this homemade Five happiness was highlight of the night.
All the praying items were fully prepared to welcome the God of Prosperity (GoP). Hopefully GoP will always standing beside us leading us to the way of prosperity. http://www.thefye.com/ "huat ah". Hope pay cheque will come in one by one. Gong xi Gong xi....
Fire crackers were lighted to scared the evil away. But the polis were on their way to your house.
Ready to welcome the god of prosperity. Cai Shen Dao
The Chai family representative were on their way.
The god had arrived. So how we know the God had arrived??? There were two pieces of wood that showed the presence of god. If the both of the wood were different direction that means the god had arrived.
Music please. There were a song called " Cai Shen Dao" were playing while the whole process was on the way. Here were some videos to let you know more about the tradition.
There were some meatless snack session after the prayer. Basically, the first day of CNY was a vegetarian day. So, no meat allowed and it was the only healthy day through the whole CNY.
I got a lot of AngPau (red packet)
Now I can think how I spend my angpau money. Woohoo!!!!
Thefye.com here greeting you Happy chines new year.Woohooo....Gong xi gong xi.....
