While some Chinese New Year traditions may be changing (off the top of our heads, virtual lai see), superstitious Hongkongers still visit places of worship during the holidays in hopes of ensuring their good fortune for the coming year.
Photographer extraordinare Adrian Lo was on hand over the public holidays to capture some of the age-old rituals in action, including at the ever-popular Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, where worshippers queue around the block to spin the fan-bladed wheel of fortune.
Sheung Wan’s Man Mo Temple, which dates back to 1847, is brimming with incense in various different forms – slender, fragrant sticks, conical coils dangling from the ceiling, and thick joss sticks with wishes for wealth, health and happiness written on them.
Worshippers lighting incense in Man Mo Temple
A man burns incense as an offering under joss coils in Man Mo Temple
A woman deep in thought as she holds her joss stick offerings before placing them in the burner at Man Mo Temple
Meanwhile in Sha Tin, the second day of the Lunar New Year is the most popular day to visit Che Kung Temple, as it is supposed to be Che Kung’s birthday. Families visit the temple in droves over the holiday to turn the aforementioned wheel of fortune, a fan-bladed wheel which, when spinned three times, is believed to bring the spinner good luck in the coming Lunar Year.
Che Kung Temple’s main hall in Sha Tin, which was built in the early 1990s to accomodate larger crowds
The massive main hall was actually built in the early 1990s to accomodate the large volume of tourists, but the original temple (which dates back to the late Ming Dynasty) remains hidden behind its roomy facade, and is only very occasionally opened to the public.
A young child spins the brass wheel of fortune in Che Kung Temple
A young Hongkonger gleefully beats the drum for good fortune in Che Kung Temple
Another popular tradition at Che Kung Temple is to beat the drum which flanks the altar, a ritual which is also said to bring good luck (or at least happiness to the younger visitors!).
A pinwheel toy hangs at Che Kung Temple
Given the fan-bladed wheel’s popularity, visitors can also purchase small red and gold pinwheels crafted from foil, which are supposed to be good luck charms.
A young worshipper clutches his New Year toy, which is decked out in auspicious colours
Photos: Adrian Lo
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