Thousands of Chinese people flock to the temple to pray to the God of Wealth
The God of Wealth ceremony is much larger than many other New Year events in China, when many people go to temples to pray for good luck throughout the year.
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People burn incense at Quy Nguyen Temple, Wuhan city on February 9. Photo:AFP |
Thousands of Chinese people flocked to Guiyuan Temple in Wuhan, Hubei Province, today to pay respect to the God of Wealth and pray for good fortune in the Year of the Pig. The event is held on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, marking the birthday of the God of Wealth according to Chinese beliefs,AFPreport
Despite the early morning chill, crowds of young and old carry incense sticks to burn in the vast temple courtyard. The amount of incense and offerings here is much larger than at any other festival in China, forcing the managers to regularly clean up the ashes.
Chinese media reported that in recent years the event at Guiyuan Temple has attracted more than 100,000 people a day. "According to traditional beliefs, today is the birthday of the God of Wealth, so I came here to celebrate," said Gong Xinwen, who has been going to the temple with her parents since she was a child.
This year, Ms. Gong prayed to have a child in the Year of the Pig, which is considered a lucky time. “The pig is a symbol of good fortune,” she explained. In the center of the Guiyuan Temple is a giant statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, which is often sought by those who want to have children.
China and many other Asian countries are celebrating the Lunar New Year. This is the most important holiday for the Chinese, with many festivals held over two weeks to celebrate the new year. Families often gather together to prepare traditional foods, exchange gifts and give each other lucky money.
