Some history of JB
Not many people knows, even the ones staying in JB or nearby, about the annual Ching Gay held on the 20th day after Chinese Lunar New Year, which this year falls on the 18th and 19th of February 2007. Most people just know that there will be major traffic jam during these three days at certain locations in JB.
The JB Ching Gay, this year was held on the 9th, 10th and 11th of March.
The "Gods" were being taken out of JB old temple at Jalan Terus and then journey to the assembly temple at Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. Devotees of different Chinese dialects will take ownership of "their" God and carry them to the assembly temple. It happens around 11am on the 9th Mac (Friday) and ends around 2pm. Devotee will continues to pray and give offering there.
Note that the pall-bearer is wearing different colour t-shirt with different God. You have to be members of the associations to obtain such T-shirt. People believe that to be able to carry the God, you will be blessed with a year of good luck.
Once a while the leader (one holding the flag) would shout "Yeo" (shake) and the pall bearer would shake it left and right.
The distance of the old temple and the assembly temple is about 5km.
On the 10th night, the "gods" will be carried on a 10km journey which will pass old Convent School, old JB jail, JB library, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and back to the assembly temple. The journey starts around 7pm and ends about mid night. It will rain "to cleanse the road" the God will pass thru in the afternoon.
Didnt cover this journey as I have to be back to Subang by evening.
On the 11th, the God will then begin their journey back to old JB Temple, of more than 100 years old.
Note: I had turn off the comments function and if you want to contact me, my email frank.hplim@gmail.com
