The annual Tam Kung Festival will once again be held in Coloane on May 15, with an array of Tam Kung’s birthday celebratory events featuring a dancing dragon, gongs and drums, dancers and a parade, as well as a charity bazaar and beer carnival.
The birthday of Tam Kung, a sea deity who can control the weather, falls on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, i.e., on May 15 this year, coinciding with Buddha’s birthday, a public holiday.
Tam Kung became a divinity as a boy when he was able to cure the ill.
Coloane’s Son I Charity Association President Yeong Keng Hoi told reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s press conference at The Plaza Restaurant in Zape about the festival that this time a Hong Kong troupe has been invited, adding that together with several troupes from local entitites including three integrated resort (IR) operators – MGM, Sands and Galaxy, about 100 performers will take part in the one-day event.
As a highlight of the festival, according to the press conference, the parade, featuring 30 troupes, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day, after which a total of 3,000 “happy buns”, a ritual designed to spread the joy and luck generated by the festival, will be presented to the event attendees on Rua da Cordoaria in Coloane.
The press conference noted that the beer carnival will be held from 2 p.m. outside the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, also featuring Chinese and Western cuisine sponsored by restaurants in Coloane, while the “Poon Choi” (“Big Bowl Feast”) outdoor dining will begin at 6 p.m. on Rua da Cordoaria.
Tam Kung Festival is a tradition carried out by Coloane villagers to celebrate Tam Kung’s birthday.
Moreover, the organiser – Coloane’s Son I Charity Association – and the Photographic Society of Macau jointly organised the Tam Kung Festival photo competition, with one winner, one first runner-up, one second runner-up and 10 merit awards, with a maximum prize of 5,000 patacas.
Tam Kung is worshipped in Hong Kong and Macau in particular.
Coloane’s Son I Charity Association President Yeong Keng Hoi speaks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s press conference about the upcoming Tam Kung Festival, at The Plaza Restaurant in Zape. “Son I” is Chinese for “Faithfulness” – Photo: Yuki Lei
