GEORGE TOWN: Clanging cymbals, incense smoke and a Chinese opera performance added to the festive atmosphere of Cheng-Swee Chor Soo Kong’s birthday celebrations at the 130-year-old Snake Temple in Sungai Kluang here.

The temple’s resident deity’s birthday was celebrated with devotees making offerings of giant pink joss sticks, flowers, eggs and buns.

Among them was Khoo Kay Hoo, 34, who said he had been coming to the temple since the day he was born.

“My birthday also falls on the sixth day of Chinese New Year, like the deity, so I never fail to come and pray for good health and more wealth,” he said.

Chor Soo Kong was a Chinese Buddhist monk who lived during the Song Dynasty (from 960 to 1279).


Brave kids: Children capturing their moment with the reptiles during the birthday celebration at the snake temple.
When he died at 65 after a lifetime of good deeds, he was conferred the title “Chor Soo”, and became a great historic figure worshipped throughout the centuries.

Legend has it that the deity gave shelter to the snakes in the jungle and when the temple was completed, the snakes moved in and were regarded as the deity’s protectors.

Tai Siow Mei, 38, said she was visiting her family in Sungai Petani for Chinese New Year and decided to come to Penang for the birthday.

“When I was a child living in Sungai Petani, I used to come here often. There used to be so many snakes crawling on the windowsill and hiding in the temple then. Now there are only a few left,” said Tai, who was there with her mother, husband and two children.

Snake handler Louis Chew, 21, noted that there were many foreign tourists as well.

“They like to come and have their pictures taken with our 2m-long Burmese python and albino python,” he said.

More than 50 beggars were also seen near the temple’s steps.

A retiree, who only wanted to be known as Chin, said some were “genuine beggars” while others were devotees begging to fulfil their vows to the deity.

“Perhaps they are here to do penance,” he said.

By CHRISTINA CHIN
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Saturday February 20, 2010

The Star Online