2. Raising the Dou Mu (斗姆) Heavenly Lamps
Yu Huang Dian Yu Hai Tang Guan Yin Tang is the only temple in Singapore that uses the dragon staff (龙杖) and phoenix staff (凤杖) during the Nine Emperor Bodhisattva festival. Serving as beacons to lead the deities, the dragon staff and phoenix staff are held by the heads of the dragon team (龙队) and phoenix team (凤队) — Mr. Tan and Jenny — respectively. .
On the day for raising the Dou Mu Heavenly Lamps, the temple committee members will decorate the dragon staff and phoenix staff by attaching it with some ornaments and a lantern with the words “千百子孙” (an abundance of descendants) painted on it.
The members of the temple committee held on to a long rope attached with yellow lanterns and released it accordingly as the pulley system, which was needed to raise the lanterns and lamps, was being set up. Accessories such as a black flag, an abacus, an image of a heavenly stork, a calabash, a straw hat, a string of antique Chinese coins and a sword were hung at the end of the rope.
While awaiting the arrival of the Guan Yin Da Shi 观音大士, the temple committee members changed into the traditional mourning outfit (丧服) ). They also wore a white headcloth and tie a yellow cloth around their waists. Mr. Tan and Jenny, being the guardians of the dragon staff and phoenix staff respectively, were the only ones who wore straw hats (草帽) and straw slippers (草鞋) in addition to the mourning clothes.
After the arrival of Guan Yin Da Shi, the temple committee members assisted Him in wearing His headgear, and also His ceremonial dress with the characters “Guan Yin Da Shi”. The guardians of the dragon and phoenix staff then led the members of the temple committee into the special chamber.
They then proceed to the Dou Mu altar (an elevated platform) to conduct the ritual for the raising of the Dou Mu Heavenly Lamps. The committee members all kneel down as instructed, and throw joss paper at the Lamps as they were being raised. The Lamps are gradually raised to the upper reaches of the metal pole. The yellow lanterns and accompanying items are raised at the same time. Thereafter, the committee members and devotees rub the joss paper on their bodies to pray for good fortune. The role of the Lamps is similar to that of a beacon, to signal to the deities that the temple was celebrating the festival of the Nine Emperor Bodhisattvas.
Nine Emperor Gods Project 九皇文化计划 