One of the best ways to experience the unique heritage and culture of Hong Kong, its many colourful festivals are renowned for their vibrancy and fervour. Visitors to this East-meets-West destination are in for a delightful treat with various such festivals taking place all throughout the year.
One such lively festival is the Monkey God Festival which falls on the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This distinctive event is dedicated to Sun Wukong more popularly known as the Monkey King who is the leading character of the Chinese novel Journey to the West. According to the novel, Sun Wukong accompanies a Buddhist monk named Tang Xuan Zang on his journey to the West to obtain Lord Buddhas teachings. Along the way, this playful and mischievous monkey finds a cave hidden behind a waterfall in which the whole monkey tribe starts to live and Sun Wukong is chosen as the Monkey King.
However, this monkey who is supposedly an outcast from Taoist heaven receives redemption for escorting Tang Xuan Zang and is now commemorated in the Monkey King Festival also known as the Monkey God Festival.
A temple in Sal Mau Ping in Kowloon is dedicated to the Monkey King and it is where the main celebrations of the festival are held with the participation of hundreds of people who bring various offerings for the Monkey King.
Back in earlier days, some used to emulate the Monkey Kings life by climbing a ladder of knives after walking barefoot over hot coals. These same acts are said to have been endured by the Monkey King during the time the other gods were trying to execute him. However this practice is no longer included in the festival. Instead the Monkey Kings birthday is celebrated by burning paper offerings and incense as a tribute to him.
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