Joss sticks are also know as incense sticks. We light joss sticks as an indication to the gods that we are starting to pray and we have prepared some offerings. We usually use small joss sticks the size of chop sticks for prayers at home. Good joss sticks are made of sandalwood powder while inferior ones from sawdust.
The giant joss sticks in the picture above are contributed by the devotees of the Ho Sin Ku Chinese Temple in Tronoh during the Goddess birthday. This one on display has designs of the lotus flower at the base, a dragon coiled around it and the statues of the 8 Immortals flanking the sides near the top. At night, it is lighted with electrical bulbs and water can be seen gushing out of the dragon's mouth. Later the joss sticks will be lighted up with a flame at an auspicious hour and burnt off.
Joss sticks are mostly machine made nowadays. However, there is still a handful of traditional masters who can make them by hand. To know more, you can read, "Penang's Traditional Joss Sticks Maker" at Penang State Tourism Official Website.
This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 2 Episode 51. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.
very colourful and appealing shot.
ReplyDeleteGiant ones they are! What a delightful post for the day! Love your photo! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
That's cool.
ReplyDeletecolorful! i wonder how tall are they.
ReplyDeleteLuna, it is common for a giant joss stick to reach 12ft tall.
ReplyDelete