GEORGE TOWN: Penang's annual fire-watching ceremony at Hock Hin Keong (the Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple) in Bayan Lepas will be held on Feb 14.

       An array of activities to accompany the ritual will be held as part of the Chinese New Year festivities, said temple chairman Datuk Lim Gim Hin.

       "This year, the event will be from 8pm to midnight, with the flame-watching ceremony scheduled near the end at 11.30pm," he told a press conference at the temple on Friday (Feb 2).

       "There will be shows featuring the god of prosperity, stilt walkers and dragon mascots, as well as various exhibitions by temples and distribution of mandarin oranges along the street outside.

       "We will kick off the event with a lion and dragon dance performance at 8.30pm, followed by a traditional acrobatics lion dance performance at 10pm and a snake dance with drum performance at 11pm.

       "After the fire-watching at 11.30pm, there will be a fireworks show to end the celebration at midnight."

       Lim hoped that the public would attend in support of the event.

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       Thousands of devotees throng the temple each year to pay homage to the deity Chor Soo Kong (Master Qingshui) on his birthday, which falls on the sixth day of the Lunar Calendar.

       The 214-year-old temple is famous for its flame-watching ritual held the night before.

       It was built for Master Chor, a Chinese Buddhist monk who lived during the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279) and was later deified.

       Legend has it that the deity sheltered snakes from the nearby jungle.

       When the temple was completed, the snakes moved in and were regarded as his protectors.