𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘬 𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 worship

How have you been enjoying this long weekend holidays? The long Labour Day-Hari Raya holidays? Well, my wife and I spent the first day of Raya with the Natok Kong and some friends at the Nandaka Vihara. My first, actually.

Quite a revelation, isn't it? A Buddhist meditation centre with a resident natok kong shrine tucked away somewhere on the grounds.

It's an annual ritual for the committee members of the Nandaka Vihara. I'm not a committee member, by the way, but my wife is. Every year on Raya eve, they would assemble at the shrine to pay respects to the natok kong with a spread befitting a little king: nasi briyani with chicken curry and mutton curry, a comb of banana, mangoes and water melon. Not forgetting a necessary cup of kopi-o (local black coffee) and a set of betel nut offering comprising kapur or hoay (lime), sliced pinang or lau hiok chi (betel nut), tembakau or lokok chao (tobacco) and daun rokok or lokok hiok (palm cigarette leaves). Like I said, a spread for a little king. And essentially, no pork dishes at all. That's strictly a no-no wherever one goes to worship at a natok kong shrine anywhere in the country.

But since Hari Raya was declared earlier by a day this year, even the preparations for the natok kong worship was thrown into a dither. Thus for this year, the worship was carried out on the first day of Shawal instead of the last day of Ramadan. No opportunity to break the final day's fast with the natok kong.

I'm told that when the Nandaka Vihara was set up some 11 years ago, the natok kong or resident earth spirit let it be known that he wanted a little shrine to be built on the grounds. It says a lot for the Chinese that when it comes to worshipping spirits of their own community or from other communities, it will usually be complied with. Better to be safe than sorry!