In Hong Kong, traditional fishermen still perform the "Jiao on water" festival. The first "Jiao on Water" festival was created in Macau in 1920s. It grown up to three festivals in Macau.
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In 1960s one of the Macau festivals moved to Hong Kong as it was too
difficult for Macanese fishermen to organize their festival in Macau due to restricted border
control.
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In 2009 another festival moved to Hong Kong in Aberdeen also. Now there are two "Jiao on Water" festivals in Hong Kong. It is a three days festival.
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The festival involves three boats. One boat for rituals with altars on the bottom part.
One boat (more like a barge) is a place for money donation, reception and place to eat.
One boat is acting as the kitchen and as place for Buddhist priests to rest.
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Traditional fishermen "Jiao on water" festivals still happen in Aberdeen.
Fishermen communities start to fade away in Hong Kong.
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The big lotus is a Buddhist symbol. Most Jiao festivals are Taoist but this
"Jiao on Water" festival is Buddhist.
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Those yellow clothes are clothes for Buddha.
There are used for the chantings by Buddhist priests inside the ritual hall.
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There are only three similar festivals left in South China (two in Aberdeen - Hong Kong and one in Macau).
This Buddhist festival is happening on boats.
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Fishermen communities never got the trust from land authorities in the past.
Nowadays government starts to buy back boat licenses as Hong Kong fishermen communities
start to have financial difficulties.
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In the past, fishermen were not allowed to pass examinations, buy land or own properties.
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Too much intensive fishing is happening in Chinese seas.
If fishermen move to the land, such festivals may just disappear.
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One boat is used for Buddhist rituals. On the bottom part, it features many altars for prayers
and joss sticks burning. On the upper part, it features the ritual hall, where Buddhist priests
deliver their chantings.
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Loud speakers are featured on all three boats so the Buddhist prayers are largely
diffused.
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Two ladies are lighting joss sticks on the ritual boat.
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Any pictures are authorized during the "Jiao on Water" festival but it is
not allowed to take pictures of old people, who are temporary possessed by spirits.
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From time to time, various paper items are burnt as part of the offerings.
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Tea is placed on the offerings table near the Buddhist priests. Due to the prayers, it
becomes sanctified so many people want to bring some tea back home.
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Only vegetable food is allowed during this three days festival.
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Only women are preparing the vegetarian food. No men are helping.
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All the women are chatting happily. Such festivals allow the fishermen
community to keep strong bonds.
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Good smell is coming from the pots. Soup, rice, vegetables only are
allowed.
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People keep coming through a free shuttle from Abderdeen pier to the
fishermen boats.
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Buddhist rituals and prayers sanctify the food and the tea so all
worshippers bring some back to their home.
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People are also attaching their own bags with food so it can be sanctified also.
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Messagers help to send feedbacks to deities.
Fishing communities are unfortunately vanishing.
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This "Jiao on Water" festival features two king ghosts (one for the sea and one for the land).
They will be burnt after the Great Offerings.
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| Ghost King paper figures |
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Normally Jiao festival only features one Ghost King. Ghost King shall help to keep discipline.
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Great offering to ghosts are performed for those who died while away on the sea or
for those who died without descendants. Food is offered at nighttime during two evenings.
On each evening, one King ghost is sent off and burnt.
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A few years ago, when fishermen burt the King ghost, some people living in Ap Lei Chau
huge towers thought that the boats were on fire so called the police and firemen!
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The prayers are over. Papers and Buddha clothes are now burnt as
offerings.
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The "Jiao on Water" festival was previously performed on smaller boats.
This year one barge was used. It is newly used for festival. Before only fishing
boats were used for gathering in 1990s. It is like moving
the deity to a permanent location as a temple on the sea because a barge cannot go
far in deep sea. It is the middle way between the sea and the land. It is also a way
for fishermen to save their culture.
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Main sponsors are written on a board. The board is hidden by a cloth.
The cloth will be removed on the last day only.
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In villages for Da Chiu festivals, a similar board is made of huge and long paper that is rolled up.
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The fishermen are kind hearted people. Everybody on board is invited for lunch.
Free treat!
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Click to see more pictures |
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