Photo Essay: Jin Tai Temple New Year Eve Pray

Introduction:

The 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year Eve Pray in Jin Tai Temple, located in Zhuhai, China, was held from Jan.28 to 29.

“Praying and lighting the first incense stick can bring good fortune to the whole family for the upcoming year,” said Zhou Zhuo-sen, a researcher from the Doumen District Education Bureau. “Some prayers preferred to burn the tall incense stick previously, which shows maximum respect to the Buddha, but not this year,” he added.

The Jin Tai Temple Chinese Lunar New Year Pray used to generate a lot of heat that night. However, the tall incense stick, which is as tall as a man, is no longer allowed to be lit instead of the little and middle stick in this year‘s event for environment protection and fire prevention, according to the temple.

“During one Lunar New Year's Eve in history, an incredible number of prayers gathered to seek blessings, and the base of the censer melted due to the extreme heat produced by the heavy burning of tall incense,” said Xie Xue-Ying, a teacher from Doumen Experiment middle school near the temple.

Waiting

At the great Buddha’s hall of the Jin Tai temple, prayers are prepared for the last minutes of the year as the master begins to chant the Lyrics for good luck.

Lit

“No matter the size, all of the incense Sticks can only be lit by the oil lamp, showing respect to the Buddha,” said Zhao Xue-wen, a Buddhist prayer.

Fulfilled

At 0:02, 29 Jan. 2025, prayers walked around and prayed in four directions, finally dropping the sticks into the censers. 

Gratifying

Finishes the prayer in the middle of the night, Tina Tan leaves the temple.