Flames of Fortune: The Chneah Hoay Ceremony at Penang’s Oldest Chinese Temple

By Eugene Quah

May 2024 PHOTO ESSAY
main image
A child enjoying the fireworks. He is standing on a rock with an inscription that recounts the contributions of Madam Tan Say Seang (see Penang Monthly, July 2023 issue) who built a temporary water supply for the village after it was destroyed in a fire in 1907. Photo: Ganesh Kolandaveloo
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ON THE EVENING of 23 February, my friend—a heritage enthusiast from Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), Ganesh Kolandaveloo—and I went to see the venerable Chneah Hoay (Fire Invitation) ceremony at Hai Choo Su Tua Pek Kong Temple at Tanjung Tokong, held on the eve of Chap Goh Meh, which is the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Since the early 20th century, the ceremony has been used by the Chinese in Penang to predict economic prospects for the new...

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Eugene Quah

is an independent researcher and writer who is working on a book tentatively called “Illustrated Guide to the North Coast of Penang”. He rediscovered the joys of writing after moving back to Penang from abroad.

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