Kek Lok Si Penang Chinese New Year

Kek Lok Si Temple Penang, one of the "must go" place in Penang Island, where I have been to numerous times in recent years with friends and family. Now have you been to Kek Lok Si during Chinese New Year? This is when the temple transforms into a scenery of lights while thousands throng the area every night. I took the opportunity to visit Kek Lok Si during this Chinese New Year, and it was beautiful to say the least. 

Kek Lok Si in an Ocean of Lights

Event: Display of Lights at Kek Lok Si Temple
Date: 19th January to 19th February 2012
Location: Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam, Penang

Phone: 04-8283317

"The Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam in Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia."

"In 1930, the seven storey main pagoda of the temple or the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas, was completed. This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown; reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism."

Source: Wikipedia

It was a beautiful sight that night

Hopping on my father's motorbike, which I chose instead of my car to beat the horrendous traffic jam up Kek Lok Si, we reached the temple at around 9pm and the crowd was still going strong. Kek Lok Si Temple opens until late at night during this festival season to allow everyone to visit this beautiful Penang landmark. Now Kek Lok Si is a place of worship hence most who were here came bearing joss stick, prayers, and an open heart.  

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

Various shots of the temple's surrounding

"In 2002, a 30.2m bronze statue of the Kuan Yin was completed and opened to public. It replaced the previous white plaster Kuan Yin statue which was damaged due to a fire a few years earlier. The bronze statue is located on the hillside above the pagoda while the head of the previous statue which survived the fire is preserved and placed on the right hand corner of the new statue."

"From 2005 to 2009 an ornate shelter for the Kuan Yin statue was constructed. 16 carved dragon pillars were built, carrying the top of three concentric octogonals roof. This most recent construction was inaugurated on 6 December 2009."

The huge statue of Guan Yin with her even larger shelter

One of the smaller statues beside Guan Yin

Now I found Kuan Yin's large bronze statue really cool because of the hugeness of the whole structure. We were like really small compared to the structure and all. Walking around the area, I was awestruck by the statue, and also the crowd. Check out some photos I took below.

Amazing Structures which must have cost a lot.

You could get some of these wishing ribbons to tie up at Kek Lok Si for wishes to come true!

Most people come here to pray to Kuan Yin and seek her blessings as she is after all the Goddess of Mercy. It was an experience indeed coming up to Kek Lok Si at night during Chinese New Year. Try not to drive here though, as the traffic jam is horrendous. While walking around the compound, we even found our birth animal statues, Janice with her Rat Statue, while I went over to hug my Rooster Statue.

Janice, born in the year of the rat

Isaac, with his rooster cock-a-doodling away

Display of Lights at Kek Lok Si Temple

The lights symbolizing peace, luck and prosperity will be lit up at Kek Lok Si Penang throughout Chinese New Year up until 19th of February 2012. If you happen to be in Penang, or plan to visit Penang soon, don't forget to drop by Kek Lok Si Penang and enjoy the beautiful Display Of Lights.