Walking along the coast from Berjaya Waterfront Hotel-Johor Bahru Eastwards, one comes across an anomaly in the landscape. Surrounded by skyscrapers and modern buildings that proudly parade the development of Malaysia, is the Old Chinese Temple Johor Bahru, a symbol of unity among the five Chinese dialect groups and a revered place of worship.
Although relatively new for a Chinese temple, it is still over a century old, being built in the 19th century by a group of community leaders. Stepping inside the walls of the temple, one is transported back to old China, with the traditional décor and features. The temple worships five deities, namely Hua Guang Da Di, Hong Xian Da Di, Xuan Tiang Shang Di, Gan Tian Da Di and Zhao Da Yuan Shuai.
Each of the deities is worshipped by a different community of worshippers whose ways of praying and offering faith are different from each other. This makes the temple a beautiful blend of culture, where different faiths and customs not only exist harmoniously but also creates a unique blend of faith.
Towards the back of the temple is a gallery that showcases pieces from different historical eras. It is here that the remnants of the “Annual God Parade” are stored. The Annual Parade of the Deities, called Chingay is a parade that takes place from 20th to 23rd of the first lunar month every year.
The parade goes on for four days, the third day where deities parade around Johor Bahru town being the climax. This parade organized by the Old Chinese Temple is an event looked forward to in the Johor. hotel industry, as well as restaurants all, flourish during this period as people flock over to join the celebration of their deities.
Tucked amidst the hustle of modernized Malaysia, Johor Bahru Chinese Temple is a lifeline between the spiritual well-being of the populace and the mechanized world that it is resting upon.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, Joanna James ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought. Her interests include Politics, law and Philosophy. Google+
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