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Bong
Low Sian Temple
General
View
of Bong Low Sian Temple
A
splendid tourist attraction spot of Bau Town is the Bong Low
Sian temple. It is the 3rd largest temple in Sarawak,
which devotees hope will help to protect Bau town from ill
fortune. The
new temple was not just a place of worship, it is also a symbol
of unity among the Chinese community in Bau as well. It
also reflected devotees' hopes that it would bring peace and
prosperity to the town.
Its
features colorful decorated pillars and paintings, an artificial
hill with a 10 feet tall waterfall flowing into the lake with
a traditional chinese bridge across it, has been drawing crowds
of visitors since it has been completed.
General
View
of the Interior of Bong Low Sian Temple
Chap Goh Mei (Guan Xiao Cheh)
Procession
The Chinese in the town managed to keep the tradition alive over the decades
despite modernisation and Western influence. One of the example is the Chap Goh
Mei Procession, a religious procession held in the town to mark the end of the
Chinese New Year Celebration. Held in the morning on the 15th day of the First
Moon of Chinese Calendar. Participated by lion dance, dragon dance troupes,
Chinese musical bands, fancy dress teams.
The highlight of the event is a Chinese Medium been carried on knife-bladed
sedan chair.
Before the procession started, the medium performed a ritual in
the Bong Low Sian Tze temple and then went in trance after 'inviting' the deity
Bong Low Sian Tze to enter his body to give him the mighty power to protect him
from been hurt by the sharp knife blades. The procession passes through the
major streets in the town to enable the medium to bless the twon and to wade off
evil spirits and bring good luck and peace to the town.
A
historical photo of the procession during 1978
General
View of the procession during 2001
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