The 8th day of the Lunar New Year will see Hokkien families across the country coming together for late night prayers and feasts in honour of the Jade Emperor’s birthday the next day.
Sugarcanes are a mainstay during the festival as it is said the Hokkiens were saved by a sugarcane plantation that suddenly appeared when they were attacked by sea pirates on that day. They had prayed to the Jade Emperor to save them.
This year, though, with Chinese New Year celebrated on a quiet note, the 8th-day celebrations are expected to be muted too.
On the Hokkien New Year or “Pai Ti Kong”, it is not uncommon for devotees to have grander celebrations and bigger, louder fireworks than any other day during the lunar new year festive period.
However, the festivities set for Feb 19 – a day after the movement control order (MCO) is scheduled to end – is likely to be on a smaller scale this year with the 10km-movement restriction and the ban on interstate and inter-district travel likely to remain.
Federation of Hokkien Associations Malaysia secretary-general Peter Lim Chee Wai said the group had been notified that prayers were still allowed to go on this year, but subject to strict standard operating procedures.
It would require devotees to pray within their own homes, instead of gathering with friends and family, or congregating at one of the 240 Hokkien Association branches nationwide.
“This year we will have to stay in our homes and do it ourselves, perhaps some relatives who live nearby could visit, but that is it. It will be different from previous years, but prayers will still go on,” he told FMT.
Lim added that those living in smaller houses could carry out prayers either on their balconies or by the road just outside their homes. He also suggested that his fellow Hokkiens make the best of the situation by celebrating through family Zoom calls instead.
Penangite Winona Law, who is now based in Kuala Lumpur, told FMT that 2021 will be the first time her family will be allowed to celebrate Pai Ti Kong after three years, as the mourning period for her late grandfather had ended.
Law and her family would typically travel to Taiping, Perak, where she would spend an entire day helping her grandmother buy and gather offerings for the festivities at night.
“The best part of Chinese New Year has always been Pai Ti Kong for me. My grandmother lives in an area with a lot of Hokkien people, so the neighbours would normally compete with each other in terms of fireworks before we settle down to eat at around 3am,” she recalled.
Law said she would make do by celebrating with her housemates from Penang, while video calling her family members from afar.
“It’s kind of sad that we can’t get together, with me in Kuala Lumpur, my family in Penang and my grandmother in Taiping. But there is nothing much we can do about it, and it will be okay as long as I still have contact with my family. It is still Chinese New Year, just a little different,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lim Weii Liian said his family was planning to hold prayers on a smaller scale at their home in Shah Alam, and only inviting relatives who live nearby.
He voiced his disappointment at the muted celebrations this time round, saying Pai Ti Kong was “the busiest day out of the first 15 days of the Chinese New Year,” and that his family normally prepared for it two days in advance.
“About seven houses in my neighbourhood take part in Pai Ti Kong, so we would count down and light up firecrackers together. Our prayers will be led by my friend, who is president of our Buddhist youth club.
“But this year he won’t be able to come over, so we will hold simple prayers with fewer offerings since there aren’t as many people to help around the house,” he said.
He added that he knew of many other families who were cutting down on offerings this year, due to financial constraints and uncertain business prospects as a result of the pandemic.