Photo Essay: Traditional Jin Tai Temple New Year's Eve Pray

Reported by ZHOU Haoming

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 Lin Qizhong, 88, who came to the event for years, “Some prayers preferred to burn the tall incense stick previously, which shows maximum respect to the Buddha, but not this year,” she 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 sticks in this year‘s event for environmental protection and fire prevention, according to 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, 28, a Buddhist prayer.

Fulfilled

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

Cauldron

Carrying the best wishes of all the people at the scene, the cauldron is the key point at the moment.

Gratifying

Finishes the prayer in the middle of the night, Tina Tan leaves the temple with her kid tired.