With several upcoming time-honoured spiritual festivals, Hong Kong is getting holier this May. And we've summarised all the details (and deities) for those who enjoy both culture and auspiciousness.
Tin Hau Festival / Apr 27
Worshipers flock to peaceful Yuen Long town to pay respect to Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea, every third lunar month. A parade of floral wreaths, traditional dancers and a marching band fills the streets, starting from 10am.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival / May 9-13
Dubbed as "Top 10 Quirky Local Festivals" by Time magazine, the famed Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island has an origin to match. In the 18th century, Cheung Chau community had to deal with a devastating plague and pirate intrusion until local fishermen brought in an image of powerful deity Pak Tai to the island. The parade of Pak Tai drove away bad juju and baddies so the villagers dressed as deities to walk around the street, too. Today the festival celebrates Pak Tai, aka Supreme Emperor of the North, as well as Goddess of the Seas Tin Hua, Goddess of Mercy Guan Yin and God of the South Hung Hsing through various activities such as colourful parades, papier-mâché effigies, Chinese opera performances, lion dances and delicious food throughout the week. But the highlight is in the name of the festival. Every year, local vendors produce tens of thousands of ping on bao or "lucky buns" and competitors climb a bamboo tower covered in 9,000 imitation buns in the aptly named bun snatching contest, which will start at 11.30pm on May 12. The more buns and the higher buns they snatch, the more fortune they receive, obviously.
Buddha's Birthday / May 6-12
Perhaps Hong Kong and Bangkok have more in common than you may think. The city marks Buddha's birthday with a week of carnivals and spiritual activities at various places. First of all, worshipers wash Buddha statues with water to show respect in a ritual known as Buddha bathing at Chi Lin Nunnery and Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery. A carnival dedicated to him will be organised at Victoria Park. The Buddhist Birthday Charity Concert will take place at Hong Kong Coliseum. The other the major venues to celebrate Buddha's Birthday is Po Lin Monastery, on Lantau Island, where Buddhists can bathe Buddha images and enjoy cultural performances. Join to earn major merit.
Tam Kung's Birthday / May 12
Another sea deity worshiped by fishing communities is Tam Kung who is known for his youthfulness and ability to forecast the weather. Every fourth lunar month, believers celebrate the seafaring child god at the century-old Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan with a parade of lion and dragon dance, which starts from Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and ends at Tam Kung Temple.
