The Chinese 7th month just started, but the inconsiderate side of Singaporeans are already starting to show.
Instead of burning joss papers and other paper offerings in the metal bins, some devotees chose to burn them in other places. Hence, you get unburnt joss paper flying all over the place, or even burnt marks on roadside pavements and some on metal drain grilles.
This prompted Taoist Priest Chung Kwang Tong to urge Taoist followers to be considerate and burn the joss offerings in the bins provided by the town councils.
The idea is to remind followers to respect people of other race and religion as well.
He has a point you know… After burning the offerings, the ashes are usually cleared the next day by cleaners from the town council, which is really quite a bit of work considering the joss papers have flown all over the place, including onto the roads.
“Do clear up the offerings after the prayers. The spirits won’t physically take away the offerings and clear it for you. The cleaners will have to do so. Let’s give them a helping hand ok?
” – Chung Kwang Tong
If you’d like to contribute your story to us, drop us an email at editors@sureboh.sg and we’ll review it. We read each submission that comes to us within two weeks of receiving it.
