A fiery path of faith and renewal [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Piles of coal are stacked to form a path before being set ablaze.

As the flames roar and the heat radiates, a crowd gathers around the ritual site while devotees line up to take part in the fire-walking ceremony.

This was the scene at the Bei Tian Gong Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Jinjang Selatan on the final day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, where the annual celebrations culminated in the temple’s most anticipated ritual – the fire-walking.

Observed by Taoists, the festival begins on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar and honours the nine sons of Dou Mu Yuan Jun, the Goddess of the North Star, who is believed to preside over the Book of Life and Death.

During the nine-day festivities celebrating the deities’ descent to Earth, the fire-walking ritual serves as the grand finale – a sacred rite in which devotees cross a fiery path to cleanse themselves of misfortune and seek divine blessings.

For 53-year-old devotee Yee Chun Seong, the festival has become a lifelong journey of faith and gratitude.

Having first joined the celebration at the age of eight, Yee has witnessed the temple’s evolution from a modest wooden shrine into the grand complex it is today.

His devotion was put to the test in 2015, when he was struck by a speeding car while volunteering to lead the temple’s chariot procession to Jinjang Utara.

His leg was broken, but he believes divine protection guided him through the ordeal.

“As we neared the hospital, a car came straight at me and hit my leg. I had surgery, but it healed well. I believe it’s because of the Nine Emperor Gods,” he said.

Despite the accident, Yee’s faith remained steadfast. Just days after his injury, on the fifth day of the festival, he returned to the temple to take part in the fire-walking ritual.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it. But my feet just started moving on their own. The moment I finished walking, my legs went limp,” he recalled.

Since then, he has continued to return each year without fail.

“The Nine Emperor Gods have helped me in many ways – some things I can’t even put into words. I even met my wife here. This temple brought us together,” he said.

Long-time devotee and temple committee member Tan Foh Ong has been part of the fire-walking ceremony for over 25 years.

From start to finish, Tan single-handedly prepares the fiery path – a responsibility he has carried faithfully for two decades.

“No one else is allowed to prepare the charcoal path during the festival except me. I was taught by a master who has since retired, and I’ve continued the tradition ever since,” he said.

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The 60-year-old’s journey with Bei Tian Gong began 25 years ago when a spirit medium invited him to serve at the temple. After seeking divine intervention for his health, he made a vow that changed his life.

“I promised that if I recovered, I would go vegetarian every year. That was about 23 years ago, and I’ve kept that promise till today,” he said.

As one of the first devotees to step onto the fiery path each year, Tan describes the experience as both a spiritual and physical purification.

“You can feel the heat – it does burn, since there are live coals beneath – but if you walk lightly and calmly, everything will be fine,” he shared.

For Low Bee Bee, another devotee, the experience was one of renewal – for both body and spirit.

Originally from Johor, Low has lived in Kuala Lumpur for more than 30 years but only began attending the festival last year.

“I used to see the processions and felt envious because I wasn’t in Kuala Lumpur. Now that I’m here, I finally have the chance to take part,” she said.

Recalling her first experience, Low said she had not planned to participate – until a sudden intuition compelled her to step forward.

“I was just watching the others when I suddenly heard a voice inside telling me to walk. When I walked that day, I felt a deep sense of relief – my whole body relaxed, my mind was calm and peaceful.

“When I went home, I noticed many positive changes – the atmosphere at home, my relationship with my children, everything felt different,” she said, laughing as she added that shortly after the ritual, she won a small lottery prize after helping someone buy a ticket.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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