Dong Zhi

Today, 28th day of the 11th lunar month is Dong zhi or Tung or Winter solstice festival.

Dong zhi literally means 'arrival of winter'.

It has been said to be celebrated much merrier and grandly than the lunar Chinese New Year during ancient times.

The Chinese believed that after a year of successful harvest, it is the occasion for thanksgiving to the Mother Nature for her blessings, so, it is an occasion to celebrate.

Tang (sugar) yuen(ball) is a traditional colourful Chinese dessert often being associated with this festival - welcoming the arrival of winter season.

Wishing all Happy Tung and may all enjoy many more bountiful and abundance harvests in coming years.

~

Happy Deepavali

~

Mid-Autumn Festival, 庆 中 秋, 2011

家 好 月 圓 庆 中 秋

~

Mid-Autumn Festival, 庆 中 秋, 2010

家 好 月 圓 庆 中 秋

(Harmonious family gathering to celebrate Mid-Autumn)

~

Qing Ming

In remembrance of our departed loved ones,
we live on in contentment and joy,
as they have wished.

We gather like a flock of birds returning to shore,
as we perform and celebrate Qing Ming,
HONOURING and APPRECIATING them,
conveying peace to their blessed souls.

Idam me natinam hotu,
sukhita hontu natayu.

May the merits accrued be transferred to our departed loved ones and may they be well and happy.



~

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010

~

Happy Divali

~

Mid-Autumn Festival, 庆 中 秋

The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, around the time of the autumn equinox. As in other 15th day of the lunar month, during the mid-autumn festival, the Moon is full and round and noticeable brighter.

Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Moon Cake Festival. All family members will get together on this special day. 家 好 月 圓 庆 中 秋

This day was also considered a harvest festival where foods are abundance. Food offerings were placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. The moon cakes, water caltrope (aka trapa bicornis, a type of water chestnut resembling buffalo horns or a bat), pamelos and ‘mini’ yam are amongst the ‘sure have’.

Traditionally, lanterns of various designs, shapes and sizes will be lighted and at times paraded. Homes of Chinese families and streets will be illuminated with the soft glow of lanterns.

Legend

During the time when China was ruled by the Mongolian, the Chinese rebels were planning to overthrow the Mongols. War strategy and messages outlining the attack were implanted into the moon cakes and smuggled/distributed to the leaders of the rebellion. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully overthrew the Mongols. Hence, the moon cake festival is celebrated annually to commemorate the victory.

The saying goes

家 好 月 圓 庆 中 秋
(Harmonious family gathering to celebrate Mid-Autumn)

~

Hungry Ghosts Festival

14th day of the 7th lunar month.

A traditional festival, from popular beliefs, the Festival is the day (month) where literally the Gate of Hell are opened and all Hell inhabitants are set out to roam free on the human realm.

Dear Visitors, please enjoy yourselves and return to where you come in peace. We share and transfer our merits attained through our meritorious deeds with you all. May you find a less suffering rebirth.

Idam me natinam hotu, sukhita hontu natayo.

~

Qing Ming

Qing Ming festival, a day for remembrance and an opportunity to pay homage to one's parents and ancestors. It is also to show filial piety, a value one should uphold throughout and it should be passed on to the next generation.

Transference of merits.

According to Buddhism, when a person dies he/she could be reborn in any one of the 31 planes of existence. Some of these are the Deva (happy) realms, where beings that have developed good Karma are reborn. On the other hand, those who have accumulated evil Karma are reborn in woeful states ie. hells or animals.

There is an intermediate (unhappy) state where people who have not bothered to accumulate good Karma and yet at the same time have not done any serious evil deeds are born after their deaths.

Thus, the living relatives or friends of such beings can perform good deeds ie. give alms, donations, charities, etc and mentally transmit the merits accrued to them.

When the unhappy beings become aware that they have been remembered, they experience happiness and are hence propelled into better states of existence.

Idam me natinam hotu,

sukhita hontu natayu.

May the merits accrued be transferred

to our departed loved ones

and may they be well and happy.

~

Tung - Winter Solstice Festival

24th day of the 11th lunar month.
Counting down to the Year of the Ox.