Che Kung Temple draws crowds on second day of Lunar New Year for prayers and fortune-turning windmills

Devotees flocked to Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin on Wednesday, the second day of Lunar New Year, to pray, draw fortune sticks and buy windmills for good luck, with one stall reporting a 10 percent sales increase despite mixed crowd control views.

A father and son from the Chui family visited to draw lots.

The father received an upper lot and was delighted, planning to study its meaning with AI assistance.

He has visited annually on this day and brought his son this year.

The son drew a lower lot on behalf of a friend regarding career prospects but remained positive, stressing the need to stay humble, keep learning and never give up.

The father encouraged him, viewing lots as guidance rather than final outcomes, and said they might buy a windmill to turn luck around, budgeting HK$100–200.

He noted the Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung’s ninth consecutive middle lot for Hong Kong was steady and reasonable.

A young child dressed as the God of Wealth, accompanied by his grandfather, wished his grandfather good health while hoping for his own happy, successful school year.

Many visitors bought colorful, noisy or large windmills after drawing lots to usher in better fortune.

One stall owner reported about 10 percent higher sales than usual and recommended windmills for their variety, with possible half-price discounts on the final day.

Another stall owner, Cho, complained strict crowd controls cut footfall and reduced his takings by over 20 percent, urging authorities to ease restrictions to help vendors sustain their business.