99-year temple tradition ends with ban on 'first incense offering'

Wong Tai Sin Temple has banned the public from joining the first incense offering to mark the beginning of the Year of the Ox for the first time in 99 years due to the pandemic.

But devotees can still go to Wong Tai Sin Temple and Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin during Lunar New Year, with crowd control measures in place.

Only the traditional first incense offering that takes place in Wong Tai Sin Temple on Lunar New Year's eve will be canceled on February 11, with the temple closing at 4pm.

The traditional activity sees worshipers rushing to place incense in front of Wong Tai Sin, which will bring them good luck for the year ahead.

People usually stand shoulder to shoulder as they race to the front of the main altar to offer their first incense sticks.

Lee Yiu-fat, the Taoism abbot of the temple, said: "To satisfy all believers' worship and prayers to Wong Tai Sin, we will hold a special Taoist ritual (on Lunar New Year's eve) where the chairman, five vice-chairmen of the Sik Sik Yuen Board and myself will represent all the believers to pray in the ritual at the main altar."

The ritual will be livestreamed on Sik Sik Yuen's Facebook page and aired on RTHK TV channel 31.

Lee also urged believers to pray at home at midnight in the direction of Lion Rock.

He said the decision was made because of the pandemic and concerns over safety of citizens and volunteers at the temple.

Veteran actress Lana Wong Ha-wai, 88, said she was disappointed about the event cancellation.

She often attended the event in an outlandish costume of that year's animal but she said on Facebook yesterday that "in order to bring a little hope to people at this helpless moment, my manager has helped me to make an arrangement, where I will pray for Hong Kong people at 3pm on Lunar New Year (February 12) in a Bull King costume."

Wong Tai Sin Temple will open at 7.30am to 6pm from next Friday to February 26.

The temple will monitor the situation and stop people from entering when it is too crowded.

Visitors must register before going into the temple, where they can scan the government's "LeaveHomeSafe" app QR code, or they can tap their Octopus card and enter their phone number at the entrance, or provide their name and phone number to staff. All visitors have to wear a mask in the temple and there cannot be more than two people in a group.

From next Friday to February 18, which would be the peak days for people visiting the temple, there will be free incense stick offerings and the staff will help believers to light the incense to avoid people gathering around the incense burners.

Anti-pandemic measures will also take place at Che Kung Temple, which people usually visit on the second day or third day of the Lunar New Year.

Opening hours will be extended to 11pm on February 13. It will close at 6pm on February 14. Drawing divination sticks by the Sha Tin Rural Committee on the morning of the second day of Lunar New Year will carry on but will not open to the public.

Temple operator Chinese Temples Committee said people are required to scan a QR code with the government's"LeaveHomeSafe" app before entering Che Kung Temple.

The committee will limit the number of people to no more than half of the maximum capacity and a one-way flow will be adopted inside.

A spokesman for the CTC said: "Alcohol must not be used in the incense lighting area to avoid fire hazard.

"The CTC also appeals to the public to avoid flocking to the temple during the peak period. Every day is a good day for worshipping."