The 177-year-old Hong San Si temple, located on Wayang Street in Kuching, stands majestically each year as devotees visit the grounds to pray to the deities. During Chinese New Year, the temple is filled not only with devotees but also with Chinese people who uphold the tradition of giving thanks to the Gods.
Joss sticks and candles are lit, and the serene atmosphere is combined with the quiet murmur of prayers and blessings for the year ahead. Speaking to a volunteer who works at the temple, it was revealed that the temple opens 24 hours a day only during this festive season.
Before the new year, the temple is cleaned, and old lanterns are replaced with new ones. Devotees come to hang their wishes on the lanterns — a tradition observed in prayer for another prosperous year.
“For the Chinese, visiting the temple is a routine that they renew each year. Some come to ask the deities for blessings, others come in thanksgiving, and at the same time, they ask for good luck for the coming year. It’s a tradition,” the volunteer explained.
The man, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Sarawak Tribune that this yearly routine is not purely a religious practice but an act of maintaining cultural ties with our ancestors. He expressed disappointment that many younger generations have lost this cultural connection.
However, there are still many who remain devoted to the traditional routine. Many who live far from Kuching also visit the temple two weeks before the new year to give thanks.
A practice dating back to ancient China, the volunteer is concerned that many long-held traditions are gradually fading. With each generation, a piece of tradition is lost, as these customs are often passed down by word of mouth with no written records to accompany them.
Nevertheless, the spirit of celebrating Chinese New Year remains, as it is the most significant celebration for the Chinese community. “We try to maintain and preserve as much as we can, but we also need the younger generation to come and help,” said the man, who has worked at the temple for 41 years.
Managed by the Kuching Hokkien Association, the temple relies on many volunteers who are descendants of their parents and grandparents, with some having worked there for over 50 years. To them, caring for the temple is a way of preserving traditions that have been in place for over 100 years, as well as maintaining the culture of ancient China.
By upholding these practices — every little detail — the Chinese community will continue to have a strong cultural identity, deeply rooted in history, to carry forward into the future.
