Qing Ming: A Time To Remember & Pay Respect

I am sure by now a lot of you have known that Qing Ming is here again right? For the uninitiated Qing Ming is the time of the year where our late ancestors will be celebrating their own "Chinese New Year". So 2 weeks ago I followed my daddy, together with my relatives to visit my ancestors. I am really happy that this time around I could join them. For the past 2 years I couldn't make it because of my working time. Hence yours truly me was really excited to visit the graves again. We been to not 1 but 3 different cemeteries to pay our respect. Unbelievable right? :p

We were early at the cemetery. :)

The first cemetery that we visited was the one at Bukit Jelutong. My father and I were the amongst earliest to arrive. We embarked on our journey early because we knew there would be massive traffic jam...and we were right of course. My great grandmother was being housed here at Bukit Jelutong. The first thing we did is to clear up her graveyard. It's like spring cleaning for them. We weeded any plants or grass "hovering on top of her". :p

It's weeding time. :D

Can you see that different papers are being stacked?

Then we will be placing gold, silver and colorful papers on top of the grave. The more of these papers were being put....the more prosperous the family will be. Is it so? I have no idea at all, but I enjoy placing those golden, silvery colorful papers on the tomb. They look so vibrant. In fact everyone is doing that for their ancestors. Hence the graveyard looked very merry. Ha :D

My aunties and uncles arrived.

Let the prayers begin.

While waiting for my late great grandmother to feast.

Offering: Golden ingots.

We sent her money by burning them. I know...global warming...

After we have done blanketing my late great grandmother with gold, silver and colorful papers, we started our praying ceremony. We would be offering prayers to the "Palace on the Sky" because we believe they are the guardians of the tomb. Of course after that we started to pray my late great grandmother. We offered her "kuih", fruit, tea, chicken rice and coffee. After she has "hinted" to us that she was full, we then sent her her gold ingots, money, credit card etc. Ha :D After that we moved on to the two cemeteries to pay respect to my late great grandfather and grandparents.

At my late grandparents' tomb.

Spring cleaning.


Everyone had to do something. :)


See? My aunties and uncle we decorating the tomb. Ha :D


All set now.


I am sure grandparents were happy to receive so much money.


And a new bungalow too. :)


My eldest auntie asked if my grandparents had done feasting or not.


Visiting my eldest late uncle.

At my late great grandfather's tomb.

Looks pretty "ancient" right? :)


We were busy placing our money.


Qing Ming is really an occasion for family reunion right? :)

We completed our duty at around 12 noon. It was a very tiring day for all of us but I believed all of us enjoyed being together for this Qing Ming. I am really happy to meet my relatives again. We joked, chit-chat and caught up with each other. Qing Ming not only allowed us to remember and appreciate what our late ancestors have done for us, it is also the time where family members will get together and bond. Don't you agree? So to my beloved ancestors...you guys take care ok. Until we meet again during the next Qing Ming. :)

Qing Ming: A Time for us to be grateful. :)