Double Ninth Festival celebration at Nirvana Memorial Garden

Double Ninth Festival celebration

NV Multi Asia Group (Nirvana) organised its first Double Ninth Festival celebration at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih recently.

The Double Ninth Festival celebration at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Semenyih 

The importance of filial piety was emphasised at the event.

Xiao 孝 (filial piety)

The Double Ninth Festival, which has a history of more than 2,000 years, falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Lunar Calendar, which will be on today.

In his speech, Nirvana founder and managing director Datuk Kong Hon Kong said historically, the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar is a day to show gratitude to the gods and ancestors.

It was then officially made a festival during the Tang Dynasty.

According to folklore, the day was also for people to climb the mountains to protect themselves from danger.

There were also customs involving drinking of chrysanthemum wine and wearing the zhuyu plant (Cornus officinalis).

“We have never organised this festival before as we previously did not know much about it, plus the facilities at this memorial garden have yet to be fully completed.

“Now that the Chinese Calligraphy Stone Gallery is completed, we are able to welcome visitors here and celebrate this festival,” he said.

 Chinese Calligraphy Stone Gallery

He added that Nirvana not only organised a prayer session to honour ancestors but had also hired many experts to turn the Chinese Calligraphy Stone Gallery into an experience classroom.

There were various activities for visitors to learn more about Chinese culture. Visitors had the chance to try their hand at calligraphy and make their own prints using the Chinese traditional method of printing, watch wushu demonstrations and listen to poetry recital as well as Gu Qin (a zither-like seven-string Chinese music instrument) performances.

There was also an exhibition that featured various calligraphy-themed filial piety.

Members from the Malaysia Hua Xia Civilisation Association came dressed in traditional Han attire.

Guests of honour included Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Nirvana Group chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, Chinese Embassy counsellor for Consular Affairs Gong Chunsen, The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah and Malaysia Huaxia Civilisation Association president Tan Chin Kian.

The event began with performances from 40 Blossom KidEs Sdn Bhd students who played the cucurbit flute and recited poems about filial piety and Confucian teachings.

According to company founder Jan Oay Li, the students, aged between three and 10, have been learning to play the flute from six months to two years.

At the calligraphy corner, visitors could learn how to write the word “xiao” (Chinese for filial piety) in the bronze or bronzeware script style.

Nirvana Memorial Park

Nirvana Memorial Park