Temple planning for over 50,000 CNY eve worshippers

Over 50,000 worshippers are expected to flock to Wong Tai Sin Temple for the traditional first incense offering on Lunar New Year's eve on February 9, the operator of the temple Sik Sik Yuen says.

People can join the offering at 9pm to mark the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, with the temple staying open overnight to 9pm the next day.

Those unable to visit the temple in person can also watch a live stream on Sik Sik Yuen's official Facebook and Instagram pages and pray via the online praying system on the website.

Temple chief executive officer Doris Sin Pik-shan says the number of visitors on Lunar New Year's eve this year will be double that of last year due to the border reopening and full lifting of anti-pandemic measures.

Its first incense offering returned last year after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, with over 23,000 worshippers queuing up for midnight incense.

"As this is the first year that all anti-pandemic measures are removed and people's lives fully returned to normal, we expect about 50,000 to 60,000 visitors will come to the temple for the first incense offering," Sin said.

The temple will close at 4.30pm February 9 for preparation work and people can enter the temple and wait in designated areas according to their preferred time before the offerings begin.

The place will be divided into two - one for those waiting to offer incense at 11pm and the other for those who want to offer incense at midnight. A maximum of 800 people will be waiting in the two areas at the same time.

People will have to first queue up outside the temple at Wong Tai Sin Square and Wong Tai Sin Temple Square before they can enter the temple and offer incense in a one-way route.

Worshippers are not allowed to pray, kneel or give tributes and they must leave immediately after they finish offering incense at the main altar - Three Saints Hall and Yue Heung Pavilion.

The operator also called on citizens to follow the staff's direction and stay patient when visiting the temple and suggested each family as a unit should bring no more than nine sticks of thin incense.

"Visitors are prohibited from carrying large incense sticks, candles, ingots and lamp oil into the temple," Sin said.

Opening hours will also be extended from the first day of Year of Dragon on February 10 to February 25 - the day after the Lantern Festival - with other special activities in place, including workshops, lantern shows and free gift distributions to attract more visitors, including mainland tourists.

The temple will close at 6pm from February 11 to February 22 while opening hours will be extended to 10pm on the day of the Lantern Festival on February 24.

Sin said the temple will also set up several ancient Chinese-style scenes and props for visitors to take photos with.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com