Photos: In Malaysia, Wangkang procession seeks to banish evil spirits

Malaysia, China jointly gained UNESCO recognition of the Wangkang festival in 2020

Published: January 13, 2024 10:00 Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from AP

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Malacca, Malaysia: Ethnic Chinese devotees towed a giant replica of a royal barge on a wheeled platform through a Malaysian city on Thursday in a rare and colourful procession aimed at collecting and banishing evil spirits. Image Credit: AP

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Steeped in religious and cultural rites, the Wangkang — or royal ship — procession snaked along a 9-kilometer route in the historic city of Malacca with 22 stops where priests performed cleansing rituals to command evil spirits and other negative influences to board the boat. Image Credit: AP

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It was accompanied by various floats and performers. Image Credit: AP

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The Wangkang festival was brought to Malacca by Hokkien traders from China and first took place in 1854. Image Credit: AP

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It is only organized when mediums at the Yong Chuan Tian Temple in Malacca receive a command from the Ong Yah deities. Processions have been held in 1919, 1933, 2001, 2012 and 2021. Image Credit: AP

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After Thursday’s procession, another shorter parade was held at night culminating in a send-off ceremony where the barge was set aflame so the collected spirits could symbolically sail into another realm. Image Credit: AP

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Organizers said the aim of the festival is to bring health, peace, prosperity and happiness to the state and the world. Image Credit: AP

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Malaysia and China jointly gained UNESCO recognition of the Wangkang festival as an intangible cultural heritage in 2020. Image Credit: AP

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According to UNESCO, the ceremony and related practices are rooted in folk customs of worshipping Ong Yah, a deity believed to protect people and their lands from disasters. Image Credit: AP

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It was developed in China’s Minnan region between the 15th and 17th centuries and is now centered in China’s coastal areas of Xiamen Bay and Quanzhou Bay as well as in Malacca. Image Credit: AP

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