Food

Food served in the temple throughout the year

Common food served in the temple

The oranges are the fruit that is commonly served on most days. It has the meaning of wealth, good fortune and gold. Apart from that, candies and biscuits are also served in the temple. 

‘Nian Gao’

‘Nian Gao’ is known as Glutinous Rice Cake. The Chinese character ‘nian’ means ‘year’ whereas ‘gao’ means ‘high’. It has the meaning of good luck, ‘getting higher year by year’ which can imply on children’s height, business, study and work. Chinese people believe that by eating ‘Nian Gao’ during the Lunar New Year can increase one’s prosperity. It is served on Chinese New Year.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=kX8wfUXcyiAv_M:&imgrefurl=http://sugareverythingnice.blogspot.com/2012/01/nian-gao-or-sticky-rice-cake.html&docid=Sk3s96pQFysawM&imgurl=http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/jos2829/Malaysian%2525202/niango1.jpg&w=580&h=387&ei=zLKxUO_wM8-trAfR7oGwDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=601&vpy=4&dur=2688&hovh=184&hovw=276&tx=97&ty=146&sig=109631715967710619361&page=4&tbnh=147&tbnw=195&start=37&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:46,s:0,i:222

Mandarin Oranges

The Chinese character of mandarin oranges is ‘ji’ which has the meaning of harvest and good luck. It symbolizes good fortune, good luck and positive energy for a new year. The golden colour of mandarin oranges represent wealth and luck. It is served in the temple during Chinese New Year.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=1KzYP52xaZb5tM:&imgrefurl=http://closetart.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/its-the-chinese-new-year-in-asia/&docid=ZKq_G_-LAm0nVM&imgurl=http://closetart.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/org001s.jpg&w=600&h=600&ei=76-xUN6XCMrmrAfE9oGwBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=4&dur=2254&hovh=226&hovw=226&tx=138&ty=116&sig=109631715967710619361&page=3&tbnh=140&tbnw=136&start=17&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0,i:159

‘Fa Gao’

People has translated ‘Fa Gao’ as ‘Prosperity Cake’, ‘Fortune Cupcake’, and ‘Raised Cake’. ‘Fa’ means prosperity and raised. Chinese people believe that it will bring good luck and prosperity in the new year by eating it during the Chinese New Year. ‘Fa Gao’ is often dyed with bright colour such as pink, green and yellow.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?start=292&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=ASezvmQq4jk1iM:&imgrefurl=http://www.fangwoei.net/tag/chinese-festival/&docid=nm9zpIGYrmTDNM&imgurl=http://www.fangwoei.net/wp-content/uploads/wppa/26.jpg&w=960&h=960&ei=oLmxUMX3G8PorAf7tIHYCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=584&vpy=51&dur=1141&hovh=226&hovw=226&tx=154&ty=148&sig=109631715967710619361&page=22&tbnh=155&tbnw=161&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:300,i:28

Pineapple

Pineapple is usually offered during the Lunar New Year in the temple. The pronunciation of pineapple in Hokkien is ‘Ong Lai’ which means ‘welcoming wealth’ when it is translated to Chinese. The significances of pineapple are wealth, luck, excellent fortune and gambling luck.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?start=6&num=10&um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=fppkD6OkAyC7EM:&imgrefurl=http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2011/12/08/15-wacky-ways-to-naturally-induce-labor/&docid=5OTyplXmbdcvcM&imgurl=http://cdn3.blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/files/induction-methods/07-induction.jpg&w=1600&h=1200&ei=h6-xULfuG8LsrAeYrICICQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=260&vpy=82&dur=1374&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=148&ty=118&sig=109631715967710619361&sqi=2&page=2&tbnh=133&tbnw=143&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:0,i:4

Pomelo

Chinese people call pomelo as ’you zi’ which has the pronunciation as ‘having a child’ in chinese. Pomelo is usually served in the temple during Chinese New Year. It signifies family unity, abundance, prosperity and good health.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?start=114&um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=WzvorPYudCowkM:&imgrefurl=http://seasonsun-tharans.blogspot.com/2011/09/tambun-pomelos-in-jb.html&docid=-GMSMfeckIKMTM&itg=1&imgurl=http://ipohecho.com.my/v2/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/PA200307.jpg&w=636&h=423&ei=L7GxUMKdIs_PrQeb14DoCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=4&vpy=93&dur=803&hovh=184&hovw=276&tx=160&ty=110&sig=109631715967710619361&page=10&tbnh=142&tbnw=196&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:100,i:61

‘Zhong Zi’

‘Zhong Zi’ (Glutinous Rice Dumpling) is served in the temple during the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie). It is to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, who was a famous poet and scholar in China. Usually, Zhong Zi served in the temple is vegetarian as ‘Guan Yin’ (one of the Buddha in the temple) is a vegetarian.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?start=9&num=10&um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=428&tbm=isch&tbnid=IzyUItkOeDEXIM:&imgrefurl=http://www.foodmayhem.com/2010/06/red-bean-zong-zi-with-video.html&docid=Q8Xu1nVyAoHb4M&imgurl=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4703152977_6155e7f73a.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=vXqxUPWDL4fMrQeKxoHgBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=470&vpy=115&dur=16&hovh=184&hovw=276&tx=176&ty=120&sig=109631715967710619361&sqi=2&page=2&tbnh=134&tbnw=183&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:0,i:4

Moon Cake

Moon cake is the traditional food for Chinese and it is round in shape. Moon cake is served during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the temple. It symbolizes family reunion and best wishes.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=428&tbm=isch&tbnid=0qJmUFJSdaiSCM:&imgrefurl=http://blog.absolutechinatours.com/index.php/2010-09-22/moon-cakes-and-poetic-reunion/yolk-moon-cake/&docid=LDUsv1Lb6dW6hM&imgurl=http://blog.absolutechinatours.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/yolk-moon-cake.jpg&w=1181&h=886&ei=xXqxUMurH83hrAfS-YGwCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=365&vpy=4&dur=1791&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=165&ty=79&sig=109631715967710619361&page=5&tbnh=142&tbnw=184&start=47&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:54,s:0,i:316

‘Tang Yuan’

‘Tang Yuan’ is known as Glutinous Rice Balls. It is served to Buddha statues during the Winter Solstice Festival. The Chinese word ‘tang’ sounds like ‘tuan’ which has the meaning of reunion whereas ‘yuan’ means round, which signifies ‘yuan man’ (complete). It signifies family reunion, harmony, family unity and family prosperity.

Source:

http://www.google.com.my/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=910&bih=375&tbm=isch&tbnid=B4EokgQnnVe3YM:&imgrefurl=http://www.malaysiabest.net/2008/12/14/how-to-make-tang-yuen-or-tang-yuan-for-winter-solstice-%25E5%2586%25AC%25E8%2587%25B3/&docid=ZXirSLT-EdlqFM&imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2230/2127263154_3dd705b1b5.jpg&w=500&h=375&ei=Aq-xUJSvG4aErQfNu4HQBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=617&vpy=82&dur=368&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=181&ty=170&sig=109631715967710619361&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=201&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:96

Free Lunches for the visitors and devotees

There are free lunches in the temple on the 1^st and the 15^th day in the Lunar Calendar every month. The free lunches are vegetarian as it is to encourage devotees not to kill or cause harm to other living beings. These free lunches are served free to the devotees and the visitors of the temple.

Wesak Day Celebration

During Wesak Day Celebration, the devotees will offer or donate food items like rice, biscuits and drinks to the monks as a symbol of respect to the Buddhist monks. The food items will be kept in the storage in the temple.