GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA, October 16, 2012 (The Star): Thousands of devotees, carrying candles and incense, thronged the Nine Emperor Gods (Kew Ong Yeah) temples in Penang to seek blessings and in typical multi-religious style, Hindu devotees marked their “Navarathri” (nine nights) vegetarian festival.
Over in Burma Road leading to Tao Bo Kong Temple, there was a bumper-to-bumper crawl stretching a few kilometres as devotees gathered to mark the first day of the Nine Emperor Gods festival. The annual nine-day Taoist festival requires devotees to observe a strict vegetarian diet to cleanse and purify their bodies.
Yesterday also saw the first day of the Navarathri festival where Hindu devotees embark on a strict vegetarian diet. Penang Hindu Association deputy chairman P. Murugiah said that it was not uncommon for Hindu students to fast during Navarathri. Navarathri is a celebration to worship the supreme Goddess Shakti in her various forms. Hindus also offer daily prayers, fruits, flowers and coconuts to the Goddess.
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