Event: Display of Lights at Kek Lok Si Temple

Date: 19th January to 19th February 2012

Location: Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam

Starting from the 19^th of January to 19^th of February 2012, Kek Lok Si Temple will be lit up every night at 7.00pm until midnight to symbolize peace, luck and prosperity. 

Approximately 230,000 light bulbs and 10,000 lanterns light up the temple every night in conjunction with Chinese New Year.

This year, the 121 year old Kek Lok Si temple included four colourful dragons in conjunction with the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.

Two of them, each measuring at a jumbo size of about 36.5m (120ft) in length, flank both sides of the temple’s famous pagoda. The other two smaller dragons at about 4.5m (15ft) each, will be put up near the 30.2m bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue.

For more details please call 04-8283317.

Monday January 9, 2012

Dragon ‘guards’ descend on pagoda temple

FOUR colourful dragons are being assembled at the 121-year-old Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Penang, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year of the Dragon.

Two of them, each measuring at a jumbo size of about 36.5m (120ft) in length, flank both sides of the temple’s famous pagoda.

The other two smaller dragons at about 4.5m (15ft) each, will be put up near the 30.2m bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue.

Workers were seen racing against time to test the lighting and also cover the “dragons” with silk gauze and nets of different colours.

A contractor worker, Lee Soon Huat said they started assembling the frames of the dragons in early December and took three weeks to complete.

“We will also fix glittering LED bulbs on the ‘bones’ of the dragons. We’ll need at least 10 more days to complete all the work,” he said while covering the head of one of the dragons with silk gauze yesterday.

Other than that, the temple was also decorated with bright red and yellow lanterns.

Temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said the lighting ceremony would be held on the evening of Jan 19 before the Chinese New Year celebration on Jan 23 and 24.

“From then on, the lighting will be switched on every night until Feb 19,” he said.

Like in previous years, devotees can donate from RM50 to RM2,000 for the lanterns which are for the temple’s upkeep.

Devotees and well-wishers can visit the temple to register.

For details, call 04-8283317.