Tomb sweeping 扫墓

Pictures courtesy of Mimi Ng taken at Hokkien Cemetery, Kajang

Qing Ming Festival a.k.a Tombs Sweeping Day, falls on April 5.

It is a day for Chinese to go to the cemeteries and columbarium with offerings, to pay respect to their departed ancestors and loved ones. It is also a time for family reunion.

Being a Sunday, the cemetery at the back of my house (top) is filled with people and cars as early as 6:00 am.

We went to Nilai Memorial Park at dawn to pay respect to my parents. Their ashes are interred at the park's columbarium (below).

My brothers, nephews and nieces were there too.

As a Christian, I am following Chinese custom to fulfill my annual duty as a son to pay respect and honour to my non-Christian parents at their tombs (in this case, at the ash niches).

It is also a time for a reunion with siblings, sister-in-laws, nephews and nieces. The food offerings are later shared among us.





四月五日是清明节。

因着是星期天，好多人乘休息日之便，到墓园或骨灰塔扫墓。

我家后面的福建义山（最上图片），在早上六时起，就挤满了汽车及人群，非常的喧闹。

我们也一早就到汝来孝恩园拜祭我的先父母。他们的骨灰置放在这里的骨灰塔。

身为一名基督徒，我遵循华人的传统习俗，在清明节时，到非基督徒先父母的骨灰置放处，敬拜他们，这是一个儿子应该尽到责任及义务。

我们兄弟，嫂嫂及侄儿女都有参与。过后，我们共享了带来的食物祭品。

清明节是对先人感恩（养育教导），怀缅（典范，喜乐）的庆节，也是家人团聚，和好及分享的温馨场合。