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Events
& Festivals 2000 |
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May
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May
1
Laborer's Day
May
11
Feast of Buddha (The bathing of Lord Buddha, the Drunken Dragon & Tam
Kong Festival) Bathing the Buddha
The birthday of Prince Siddhartha, founder of Buddhism, is marked by devotees
bathing his image. Born a prince, Siddhartha embarked on years of wandering
to seek enlightenment. By resisting all temptations, he found that to
attain true knowledge and peace, man had to renounce all of earthly desires
and eliminate the self.
May
11
Feast of the Drunken Dragon
This is an unusual local festival that is observed by fish traders on
the eighth day of the eighth moon. The festive occasion starts from Kwan
Tai Temple (near Leal Senado square) where groups of intoxicated men will
dance their way through markets and lanes while waving wooden dragons'
heads and tails. The performance has also been interpreted as an exorcism
or a fertility rite.
May
11
Tam Kong
Looked upon by fisherfolk, worshippers at the shrines of Taoist child
god, Tam Kung, pray for health, wealth, knowledge and wisdom-and calm
seas. It was said that during the Qing Dynasty, the orphan Tam Kung who
was raised by his grandmother attained extraordinary power at the age
of 12, thus making him the subject of worship. He could heal the sick
and control the weather. Just by tossing a handful of peas into the air,
he could bring rain. And to stop a fire, he would simply throw water into
the air. During this festival, Chinese opera will be staged at Coloane
village where there is a temple dedicated to Tam Kung.
May
13
Procession of Our Lady Farima
An annual procession of devotees from S. Domingos Church to the Penha
Chapel where an open-air mass is said. The event commemorated the miracle
of Fátima in Portugal in 1913.
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