subject: Towering Sweet Memories At Hong Kongs Cheung Chau Bun Festival [print this page] Spread out across seven glorious days in May, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is fast becoming one of Hong Kongs most popular festivals. Taking place on the 8th day of the lunar calendars fourth month, this hundred year old festival is said to have originated to drive out evil spirits from the island by villagers parading a statue of the god Pak Tai along its streets.The period preceding the last day of the festival sees the entire island population adopt a vegetarian diet in preparation while three 60-foot bun towers are constructed near Pak Tai Temple. Flanked by mountainous steel structures, the steamed buns bear crimson coloured insignia denoting its district of origin.
The climax of the festival sees a mardi gras like procession hit the decorated streets of Cheung Chau island where children and adult participants in vibrant costumes walk on stilts or on specially created floats. Children dressed as Chinese heroic figures are also suspended in the air on the end of paper fans and swords in a sight that appears too magical to be real.
Visitors should not miss the breathtaking lion dances and dragon dances that have become an integral part of this annual parade while a myriad of drums and gongs chase away bad spirits with their rhythmical beats as they lead the procession to Pak Tai Temple where the god of the northern spirit and water dwells.
When it nears midnight paper effigies of the King of the Ghosts is ceremoniously set on fire as perfumed incense sticks are lit far and wide. The stroke of midnight sees athletes hurriedly climbing the towering bun mountains while hurling the delightful treats on to the crowd below who share them with their neighbors and visitors in a celebration of good fortune. Those who are lucky enough to grab the top most buns from the mountain summit are considered extra fortunate as the athletes themselves compete to reach the peak to grab the much sought after treat.
Those on the lookout for a comfortable Causeway Bay hotel will not be disappointed with the luxurious Cosmo Hotel which is ideally located facing Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Less than ten minutes away from the nearest MRT station, it is a conveniently situated budget hotel Hong Kong city is proud to call its own.
by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
