The Lim Ko Niao figurine is transferred from the altar to the sacred palanquin after the Poe Divination. (Photo by Phoowadon Duangmee)

 

On the first full moon after the Chinese New Year, Chinese descendants in Pattani province, Thailand’s deep South, celebrate the sacred palanquin procession at the 16th-century Leng Chu Kiang Shrine. All 18 Chinese deity figurines, including Cho Su Kong, Pae Gong, and Lim Ko Niao, are transferred from their altars to sacred palanquins before wandering (and having a lot of action and adventure) outside the shrine for one day.

 

The annual Hae Phra Mueang Pattani Procession, also known as the Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Festival, is a homecoming event for Chinese descendants born and bred in Pattani. The festivalalso draws visitors and pilgrims for the sacred palanquin procession. The spiritual procession, water wading, and fire walking are all well-known rituals, but the Poe Divination (or zhijiao) – an ancient and little-known ritual ceremony – is phenomenal.

 

Six hours before the deities’ departure from the shrine

 

The Poe Divination is a sacred rite to seek divine guidance on procession preparations. On the eve of the procession, this ritual ceremony is performed at Leng Chu Kiang Shrine just after midnight. The Chinese oracle and senior members of the shrine gather to cast the moon blocks (jiaobei in Mandarin or poe in Hokkien dialect), a pair of wooden divination tools carved into a crescent shape with one side round and one side flat, to seek answers from the deities.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/enigma-at-the-chao-mae-lim-ko-niao-shrine/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-27

 

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I misunderstood. Thought the article was about Enigma, the chanting monk pop group.