It is that time of the year again when the famous Kek Lok Si temple will be lighted up throughout the Chinese New Year festive period in Penang.
Penang Street Art (Urban Xchange’s Strange Creature)
This mural located at a ruined abandoned house in central George Town is a collaboration work between Ernest Zacharavic and an artist named Etoja for the Urban Xchange: Crossing Over festival held in Penang last year.
Happy Chinese New Year
Rows of hanging red lanterns covering up the compound of the Kuan Yin temple in George Town as part of the Chinese New Year celebration.
Today marks the beginning of the new Chinese lunar year, also the ‘Year of the Goat’.
George Town Street View: The Temple Lions
Lion dance performers with their new lions getting blessing from the Kuan Yin temple in George Town before the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.
Lion Dance: New Lions Ritual
A lions ‘eye-dotting’ ritual and ceremony organized by Penang Wushu Lion & Dragon Dance Association. Most lions found in Penang are of the Southern Lions design and style.
“A new lion usually undergoes an eye-dotting ritual which gives the lion its ‘spirit’, because it must be brought to life and filled with a spirit through a religious ceremony. This is most of the times by a Taoist ceremony but it can be performed by any person with a high social status. The areas to be dotted with red pigment called “Zhu Sha” are the eye, ears ,nose, horn, feet, and the body; usually only the eyes are done in a public ceremony. The light in its eyes resembles that the lion’s eyes have been opened with a spirit and the shield reflects the good light from the heavens, although other explanations can be given for the mirror.”
Penang Street Art (The Blue 102th Cat)
A blue cat drawing found at Armenian Street Ghaut area, opposite the Giant Cat art work.
George Town Street View: Lantern Shophouses
Shops along Carnavon Street, George Town, are selling old traditional Chinese lanterns in anticipation of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year festival.
Youth Park Art Sculpture
These rattan art sculptures resembling the shape of a tree can be found at the edge of the field of the Municipal Park (or Youth Park)
Youth Park Landscape
A popular recreational place for the locals to have a healthy stroll or jog, the large Penang Municipal Park (or Youth Park) is created back in the 1970s.
