February Penang events: Thaipusam & more

3 Feb 2012

February events in Penang include;

Fire watching festival - Tua Pek Kong Temple (05-06/02, 21:00-midnight);
Chap Goh Meh Celebration - Chinese Valentines'Day (06/02, after dark);
Thaipusam - Hindu festival with self-mutilation (06-08/02, 06:00-23:00);

February 05-06: Fire watching festival
Where: Tua Pek Kong Temple, Tanjung Tokong
When: 21:00 - midnight
Hundreds of devotees from all over Penang will visit the the Tanjung Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple for its annual flame watching ritual or “ Chneah Hoay”. The 14th night is also believed to be Tua Pek Kong’s birthday.During this ceremony, embers in a ceremonial urn are fanned until the flames leaped up. The coming year's fortune will be foretold from the size and shape of the fire.

February 06: Chap Goh Meh Celebration
Where: Sea promenades
When: after dark
Celebrated on the 15th night of the Lunar New Year, it is also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. On
this night, with the full moon shining down, young ladies of marrying age venture out to popular sea promenades to throw oranges into the sea, wishing for a good soul mate.

February 06-08: Thaipusam
Where: Little India to Waterfall
When: 06:00-23:00
Thaipusam is celebrated during the full moon of the 10th month in the Hindu calendar and is normally
held during the last week of January or the beginning of February. During this celebration, a pilgrimage procession takes place to bring the statue of Lord Muruga on a silver chariot led by more then 60 Kavadis from Little India to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple atop the hill of Waterfall Road.