BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS & LEONG Z- KEEN
KUCHING: The highly anticipated Siew San Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple procession made a triumphant return on Monday (March 11).
With the participation of 146 groups from Kuching, Samarahan, and even Sabah, the event featured a diverse array of dragon dance performances and drew participants and onlookers from all walks of life.
Commencing at 4.30pm and lasting until 11pm, the procession, despite the cloudy weather, continued through the city, with each troop completing a route around Kuching before converging back at the temple by 11pm.
Procession leader Datuk Vincent Sim Siong Hee noted that the event commemorates the temple’s celebration, dating back to its establishment in 1839.
“If you ask anybody in the city where the Tua Pek Kong temple is, this is the one. The procession is meant to occur once every three years, and the last celebration took place in 2018.
“However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we couldn’t hold it in 2021. We are thrilled to finally host it this year,” he told the media.
A highlight of the event was the impressive 222-foot-long dragon that gracefully manoeuvered through the streets, captivating the audience with its intricate scales and majestic presence.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, accompanied by Kuching South City Council mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, graced the occasion as special guests, with Dr Sim officiating the ceremony.
For the record, Siew San Teng Tua Pek Kong stands as one of Kuching city’s oldest temples, celebrating its birthday triennially.
