Receiving the Nine Emperor Gods 2022

Devout Taoists from around the world are on a vegetarian diet for at least ten days latest by Sunday, 25th Sept, to observe the Nine Emperor Gods Festival that begins officially on 26th Sept 2022, or the first day of the ninth moon according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

preparations are underway to receive the Nine Emperor Gods

This annual Taoist celebration was disrupted for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although people are still cautious, they are relieved that they can finally carry out their religious obligations after the two-year break.

the procession arrives at the Kinta Riverbank from Tow Boh Keong

Committee members of Tow Boh Keong, a major Nine Emperor Gods temple in Ipoh, along with disciples, all dressed in white, converged at the temple late on the eve of the Festival to form a procession on foot to the Kinta Riverbank at Jalan Sultan Iskandar to receive the Nine Emperor Gods and other deities from the waterway.

joss paper set on fire as offering to the spirits

Taoist disciples from Tow Boh Keong dressed in all white at the Kinta Riverbank

Scores of Taoists not involved in the prayer ritual or procession had already arrived at the riverbank by 11.30pm (25th Sept) to enable them to pay homage upon the arrival of the deities. During the 30-minute ceremony, everyone present was required to kneel down, while the Taoist masters chanted mantras and fished out items from the river that represented the deities’ spirits.

After the ritual was completed, the procession made their way back on foot to the Tow Boh Keong temple, where many more faithful devotees were waiting to light the first joss sticks.