Would you pay RM68,000 for a piece of charcoal ("black gold" in Chinese), only to burn it to ashes later? - thats what was asked in the NST, as we have somemore *interesting* stuffs on the HGF .
It seems that a businessman in JB was willing to pay this sum in return for showers of divine blessings and the promise of prosperity throughout the year. hmmm....
I didn't know there's such traditional ritual takes place during the HGF, where the people are invited to bid for these *auspicious items* at a grand auction, with proceeds going to charity. Which charity btw is this?
Auspicious items include mandarin oranges, rice buckets, urns for offering incense, statues of the God of Fortune and the "Cake of Wealth". ehhh?!
And ever wonder how much are the bids? — RM8,000 for five mandarin oranges, RM68,000 for a piece of charcoal ("black gold"), RM200,000 for a Chinese banner with decorative lanterns and a massive RM600,000 for an urn. wah liao!!!! i mean double wah liao!!!!!
And to top it off, we mentioned in the previous blog, that we should not travel, move house and get married. The new one is not to have surgery too!! but I have to do a heart by-pass urgently..how leh?!
Some other new info is that the 15th day of the seventh month, which falls on this coming Tuesday, is the big day when families pray together for their dearly departed, visiting ghosts and spirits as well as deities. Family members prepare ritualistic offerings of food and burning of hell money (have you seen the new ones? it looks like our ringgit!! :-D ) and other items like paper cars and handphones or whatever the family believe the dearly departed or others would need.
The highlight of the HGF is the Po Doh (salvation) banquet, which is held any time during the month to treat the roaming visitors from the netherworld. It usually runs for over three days. something new to me again.
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