Heritage

[VIDEO] Honouring the Monkey God's birthday

This year's Monkey God festival in late October was the biggest and most eventful celebration since the pandemic

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 11 Dec 2022 11:30AM

[VIDEO] Honouring the Monkey God's birthday — The Sun Wu Kong festival was participated by 41 groups, including some lion dance associations from overseas. – Pic by Alif Omar, December 11, 2022

by Zaidatul Syreen Abdul Rashid

ACCORDING to Chinese legend and history, the Monkey God – Sun Wu Kong – was originally an outcast from heaven, but by helping the monks to the West, he regained Buddhist immortality.

Characterised by his quick temper, the Monkey God is one of the most important and beloved literary figures in Chinese culture.

The Monkey God is believed to be blessed with unique superhuman strength, can transform into 72 different animals and objects, with each of his hairs possessing transformative powers, while being able to magically manipulate wind, water and fire.

The community came together to celebrate as they have always done. – Pic by Alif Omar

On the 15th or 16th day of the first Lunar month of each year, devotees across the globe will celebrate his birthday.

In conjunction with the Monkey God’s birthday this year, The Vibes Culture and Lifestyle spoke to Sun Sheng Tang Lion Dance Association Chairperson Anby Ho Swee Yong on the celebrations that are now taking place following two years of stillness due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Grandly dressed in full ceremonial attire, the shamans swayed their heads, twitched their fingers, and jerked their legs during the procession. – Pic by Alif Omar

“For the Monkey God’s birthday this year, we will be having a procession and it will be the biggest in Seri Kembangan. We want to be inclusive as we want to bring the ‘Muhibbah’ spirit alive.

“After 65 years of Merdeka, we (Malaysians) do know each other, however not in detail.

“We don’t even know about our very own heritage – culture actually,” he said when met by The Vibes.

A devotee seen praying before the procession. – Pic by Alif Omar

The procession stretched for 6.8 km and took four and a half hours with floats, choral performances on the street and lively lion dances throughout the Seri Kembangan area.

For the record, during these events, there are no aggressive activities, despite there being shamans possessed by the Monkey God spirit, falling into a trance and performing ‘wondrous deeds’ to foster interactions between the Monkey God and the devotees.

During the 6.8 km procession, SMK Seri Kembangan school band also took part. – Pic by Alif Omar

According to Anby, another motive for the procession was to re-establish the sense of cultural history to younger generations.

“(It could be that... possibly...) the generation today are not so keen to know or learn in depth on (their respective) cultures, so we are trying to ‘pujuk’ them to keep and inherit their cultures by keeping it together and growing it” he said.

A devotee adjusts the deities placed on a truck before the beginning of the procession. – Pic by Alif Omar

The celebrations this year compromised 41 associations in total, including some from overseas, namely Hong Kong and Vietnam, the Indian urumi drum and the Malay kompang as well. – The Vibes, December 11, 2022