The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇大帝圣诞) held during the Lunar Ninth Month is the highlight of this temple’s yearly calendar! Follow Dr Ji Ling from the Taoist College on a tour to understand the temple’s history and the elaborate preparations leading up to the festival. A Taoist priest will also be sharing more about the prayers and practices conducted during this special occasion! MCF2021 promises that this is a spectacle not to be missed!

Meet Dr Ji Ling!

Hello everyone, I am Dr Ji Ling, Academic Director of the Taoist College! Even though I have witnessed the Nine Emperor Gods Festival multiple times for my research, there is always something about the procession, whether it is the attention to detail and the dedication of the devotees and religious leaders, that leave me deeply touched every single time.

For instance, there was one year when I was scheduled to take photographs for the Nine Emperor Gods’ annual sending off ritual. The ritual was quite the spectacle where masses of devotees would witness the lowering and subsequent lighting up of a straw boat at the coast in Punggol. That year, as the burning straw boat drifted away and enveloped by the darkness of the night, it was all as per normal until I caught sight of a devotee who continued kneeling with his offerings long after the crowd dissipated. Moments like these remind me of the unspeakable power of devotion and they give me motivation to carry on what I do for the college, the temple and Taoism!

More about the Hougang Dou Mu Gong

Hougang Dou Mu Gong is the oldest temple in Singapore dedicated to the worship of the Nine Emperor Gods. Constructed in 1919 and completed in 1921, the temple is home to several deities in the Taoist pantheon from the Nine Emperor Gods (九皇大帝) and Lady Mother of the Dipper (斗母元君) to the Monkey God (齐天大圣) and Lord General Tiger (虎爷将军). For its rich cultural, religious and historical significance, the temple was designated a National Monument on 11 January 2005.

Details of the Programme

• Language: Mandarin
• Dates:

• Sat, 25 Sep: 1000-1130

• Meeting Point:

• Entrance of Hougang Dou Mu Gong (779A Upper Serangoon Rd Singapore 534648)

• Please arrive 20 minutes before the event for registration. Our facilitators will be wearing our event t-shirt.
• Parking is available at temple premises.
• Venue is not wheelchair accessible.
• The event will proceed rain or shine.

Who should come?

• All are welcome to participate!

What to bring?

• Participants should bring an umbrella and a bottle of water.
• Participants are encouraged to dress respectfully in smart casual (i.e. collared shirt, long pants and covered shoes). Sleeveless attire, shorts/miniskirts or sandals are strictly not allowed.
• Participants will be denied entry if they dress inappropriately.
• Asthmatic individuals are encouraged to bring their inhaler.

COVID-19 Precautions

• All hosts and facilitators in this tour programme are fully vaccinated or have taken a Pre-Event Test (PET) in the past 24 hours
• Facilitators in this tour or programme are trained in basic first-aid.
• All participants must complete TraceTogether, a health declaration form and temperature taking at the start of the event.
• All participants must wear their masks properly throughout the event.
• All participants must maintain a one-metre distance from other participants during the event.
• All participants will be issued with coloured stickers and be divided into smaller groups. Participants must stay with their groups and not intermingle between the groups

Disclaimer

• All ticket sales are final. There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
• By agreeing to participate in the event, participants are responsible for any injury, loss or damage due to the negligence on his/her part or of the children under his/her charge.
• Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
• Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.
• It is compulsory for a parent/guardian to accompany any child of or under the age of 12.

For updates:

• Follow us at @mycommunitysg on Instagram and @myqueenstown on Facebook.
• Visit mycommunityfestival.sg for all our latest updates.