The Dancing Lanterns by the Youths of  Bukit Timah Seu Teck Sean Tong

Sugen Ramiah

Apart from satisfying the hunger of the wandering spirits and entertaining them with boisterous live stage performances of the Getai, the seventh lunar month is also meant for the living. Business owners, wet market and hawker center associates, during  this period to pray for peace, smooth sailing and thriving ventures. The members of the Tanglin Halt Wet Market invited the Bukit Timah Seu Teck Sean Tong to conduct their annual seventh month rituals, which was held on the twenty ninth day of the seven lunar month (3rd of September 2013).

Akin to the Teochew rituals at Chui Huay Lim Club,  an entire day was spent to fulfill the needs of the wandering spirits. As dusk drew near, the focus was diverted to the living; as they recited the guan yin sutras, asking for bountiful blessings upon the supplicants. One of the highlights of the evening was the “dance of the auspicious lanterns” or also known as ‘kee hock pau teng‘ in Teochew

The youths bowing to the altar (photo Sugen Ramiah)

These are the common red lanterns found suspended at entrance of the house, oval in shape and adorned with golden tassels. In reality, there is no underlying dogma to this presentation; however this is done to extend their (the temple) appreciation to the organizers who engaged them and to amuse them with a little folklore.

The common red lanterns which are oval in shape, adorned with golden tassels which can be found hanging at the entrance of a house (photo Sugen Ramiah)

The performance began with the dimming of the interior lights of the temporary altar, to create the perfect ambiance. The youths of the temple, draped in white robes with green sashes across their waist, then marched in with the new lanterns.

It was accompanied by a beautiful Teochew repertoire of strings and percussion. As the tempo gradually increased, the youths sprang into acrobatic actions with their lanterns creating rhythmical movements. Every single movement found expression in their faces. The radiating positive energies exuded  by these young men were bound with the lanterns, thus transforming them into auspicious items.

This is the energy that burns in the passionate youths that makes the lanterns auspicious ( photo Sugen Ramiah)

This is the energy that burns in the passionate youths that makes the lanterns auspicious (photo Sugen Ramiah)

The final pose struck at the end of every piece, Kelvin (front) Yishun (left) and Matthew (right)  (photo Sugen Ramiah)

Flags of various colours were also carried in this ritualistic dance. These twelve pairs of auspicious lanterns and flags were then placed for bidding during the auction dinner the following day.

Flags used in the dance (photo Sugen Ramiah)

The ceremonial dance concluded with a roaring ‘huat ah’ by the youths as the organizers received and hung the lanterns on the bamboo poles. These lanterns purchased during the auction will be taken home and will be returned the following year.

Sugen Ramiah a teacher by training, has been observing and documenting Chinese festivals and rituals conducted by temples for the past one and half years.

More on  the Hungry Ghost Month from Sugen  here  and here .