[PHOTOS] Of tomb cleaning and offerings: honouring ancestors on Qingming
2,500-year-old festival becomes livelier after easing of travel restrictions with border reopening
Updated 1 year ago · Published on 06 Apr 2022 10:00AM
Joss sticks and food are offered at the tomb as part of the Qing Ming rituals. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022
by Syeda Imran
KUALA LUMPUR – The annual Qing Ming festival, better known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, this year is seeing more families showing up to clean the gravesites of their ancestors.
During the festival, Chinese families visit the cemeteries to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors, and offer traditional food dishes.
This is also followed by the burning of joss sticks and joss paper.
For some families, this is the opportunity to offer paper replicas of material goods such as cars, homes, phones and “servants”.
The Vibes photographer, SYEDA IMRAN recently captured the families at the Kwong Tong cemetery here who were busy with the festival rituals. – The Vibes, April 6, 2022
Qing Ming, a traditional festival observed by the Chinese community, is celebrated in early April each year. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022Family members would burn joss sticks and joss paper, sweep the tombs of their ancestors, and offer food, tea, wine, and chopsticks in honour of their memory on Qing Ming. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022The burning of joss paper and paper replicas of material goods such as cars, homes, phones and paper servants is believed to assist the deceased in the afterlife. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022Family members take turns to pay their respects to their ancestors. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022Family members pay respects to their ancestors on Qing Ming. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022The Qing Ming tradition originated from emperors who built majestic imperial tombstones. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022Overseas Chinese communities such as Malaysians place great importance on the Qing Ming festival and observe its traditions faithfully. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022On Qing Ming, descendants also reminisce their memories with their ancestors and relatives. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022The cleaning and sweeping of graves, ancestor worship, offering food to the deceased, and burning joss sticks are among unique elements that embody the Chinese concept of the afterlife. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, April 6, 2022
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