CHARN MAO HERN KEW HUANG KENG
REGISTRATION NO: 01215 DATED 9TH OCT 1996
28 ARUMUGAM ROAD SINGAPORE 409965
TELEPHONE 6746-5290
The temple by the name of CHARN MAO HERN KEW HUANG KENG is dedicated to 九皇大帝, 宋大峰祖师 and 感天大帝. It was built in 1943 in Paya Lebar Airport Road. In 1975 due to the acquisition of land by the Government, the existing CHARN MAO HERN KEW HUANG KENG was erected at 28 Arumugam Road (in Paya Lebar Road, behind Geylang Neighbourhood Police Central) Singapore 409965 and the temple "Li Shi Hui" was registered in 1986.
Each year during the ninth lunar month, the 九皇大帝 and 斗母娘娘 would journey down to earth and reside in the temple granting wishes to those who ask and who are worthy of receiving it.
The interiors of the temple honouring the deities are usually divided into outer and inner chambers. During these nine days, devotees must be adhered strict to vegetarian diet for at least one whole day and also rid themselves from any animal products before coming for worshipping and can move freely in the outer chambers only (INNER QUARTERS ARE STRICTLY FOR TEMPLE LOH CHU ONLY, thank you for not entering), while the temple workers and the most fervent devotees must be adhered strict to vegetarian diet for at least ten days.
According to the Chinese Custom, people who fast not only abstain from meat, alcoholic drinks and sex but also abstain from killing, quarrelling and telling lies. In other words, they have to purify both their body and mind.
On the afternoon of the 28th day of the 8th lunar month, devotees gather at Charn Mao Hern Kew Huang Keng in preparation to receive the nine deities and Doumu as they descend to earth. Those following in the procession must be adhered strict to vegetarian diet the whole day and are dressed fully in white. Before the procession, a prayer session will begin led by the Priest and Loh Chu (a person elected by the nine emperor gods the previous year). The Loh Chu is an important person as he has the honour of bearing the holy urn that serves as the carrier of the divine spirit.
The nine emperor gods are considered to be emperors and treated accordingly as per the Chinese emperor hierarchy, albeit not as strict.
When all is ready (about 3pm), the Priest, Loh Chu and devotees depart from Charn Mao Hern Kew Huang Keng to Marine Parade Seaside to welcome the visitation of the nine emperor gods and Doumu (who bring good fortune, longevity and health) via waterway.
When the priest is satisfied that the gods have arrived, the festival climaxes with a parade to the sound of drums & cymbals, dragon & lion dance performance and devotees carrying the deities in a large and elaborate sedan chair returns to the temple.
After the arrival of the deities in the temple, the members of Haig Road Xiang You Hui will invite 九皇大帝, 感天大帝 and 宋大峰祖师 to Haig Road Basketball Court (between Block 5 & Block 8) for worshipping, ending on the night of the 6th day of the 9th lunar month.
On the afternoon of the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, the procession returns to Marine Parade Seaside again but this time it is to send the deities back.
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