Malacca, Malaysia: Devotees of Chinese origin pulled a giant replica of a royal barge on a wheeled platform through a Malaysian city on Thursday in a rare and colorful procession aimed at gathering and exorcising evil spirits.
Steeped in religious and cultural rituals, the 'wangkang' – or royal ship – procession traveled along a nine-kilometre route in the historic city of Malacca with 22 stops where priests performed purification rituals to drive evil spirits and other negative influences onto the boat. He was accompanied by many floats and performers.
Devoted ethnic Chinese prepare the wangkang ship during the night and culminate in a farewell party.credit: AP
The Wangkang Festival was brought to Malacca by Hokkien traders from China and was first held in 1854. It is only organized when the mediators at Yong Quan Tien Temple in Malacca receive an order from the Ong Yah Goddess. Processions have been held in 1919, 1933, 2001, 2012 and 2021.
After Thursday's parade, another, shorter parade was held at night, culminating in a farewell ceremony in which the barge was set on fire so that the gathered souls could symbolically sail into another world. The organizers said that the goal of the festival is to achieve health, peace, prosperity and happiness for the country and the world.
The Wangkang Festival was brought to Malacca by Hokkien traders from China and was first held in 1854.credit: AP
Malaysia and China jointly received UNESCO's recognition of the Wangkang Festival as an intangible cultural heritage in 2020. According to UNESCO, the ceremony and related practices are rooted in the folk customs of worshiping Ong Yah, a deity believed to protect people and their lands from disasters. .
It developed in the Minnan region of China between the 15th and 17th centuries, and is now concentrated in the Chinese coastal regions of Xiamen Bay and Quanzhou Bay, as well as in Malacca.
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