Hong Kong"s major traditional festivals
are lively and noisy affairs, at which thousands of people turn out to join the celebrations.
The festivals are among the best ways to experience the unique culture of this modern East-meets-West destination. There are festivals throughout the year that you are sure to enjoy.Monkey God Festival, Hong Kong
This mischievous and playful god first appeared in Pilgrim to the West, a novel dating from the Ming dynasty (1386 – 1644) and has been brought into Western and Eastern popular culture with a TV series and movies immortalized this mischievously divine chimp by detailing his adventures. An outcast from Taoist heaven, the Monkey God was redeemed and gained Buddhist immortality by escorting Tang Xuan Zang on his pilgrimage to the West to obtain the teachings of Lord Buddha.
In bygone days, during the Monkey God Festival at his shantytown temple in Kowloon"s Sau Mau Ping area, a possessed medium would receive tributes from followers and run barefoot over hot coals and then climb a ladder of knives and remain unhurt. These ordeals are the ones Monkey God suffered during the unsuccessful attempts of the other gods to execute him. Visitors to Hong Kong should make their way to the Monkey God Temple in Sau Mau Ping in Kowloon to witness some of the traditional trials carried out to represent the ordeals metered out to the Monkey God by the other gods.
This practice has however ceased and today people celebrate the Monkey God"s birthday by burning incense and paper offerings as tribute to the deity. The Monkey God Temple is located in Sau Mau Ping in Kowloon
Kowloon"s Sau Mau Ping Temple provides an amazing setting for the Monkey God Festival, one of Hong Kong"s most fascinating and strange, celebrations.
The Monkey God, like all monkeys, is mischievous. This arrogant and troublesome deity first appeared in Pilgrims to the West.
Celebrated on the 16th day of the eighth moon of the lunar calendar each year, this religious holiday honors the Monkey God Head to the Sau Mau.
Address: Ping section of Kowloon.
Sau Mau Ping
Hong Kong China
Open Hours: Vary with events
This mischievous and playful god first appeared in Pilgrim to the West, a novel dating from the Ming dynasty (1386 – 1644) and has been brought into Western and Eastern popular culture with a TV series and movies detailing his adventures. An outcast from Taoist heaven, the Monkey God was redeemed and gained Buddhist immortality by escorting Tang Xuan Zang on his pilgrimage to the West to obtain the teachings of Lord Buddha.
In bygone days, during the Monkey God Festival, a possessed medium would receive tributes from followers and run barefoot over hot coals and then climb a ladder of knives and remain unhurt!
This practice has however ceased and today people celebrate the Monkey God’s birthday by burning incense and paper offerings as tribute to the deity. The Monkey God Temple is located in Sau Mau Ping in Kowloon.
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