The Thean Hou Temple has been approved by the government to extend its opening hours tomorrow (19/2) from 6 am-2pm (day session) and from 6 pm-10 pm (night session) for Chinese prayers in order to welcome the arrival of the God of the Heaven (Tiangong) on the ninth day (20/2) of the Lunar New Year.
Ministry of National Unity has given the green light in a statement released today in corresponding on the application submitted by the Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association earlier to request for Thean Hou Temple to extend its opening hours tomorrow (Friday, the eighth day of the Lunar New Year) . The night session of the opening time allowed by the Ministry is from 6 pm (Friday) to 2 am (Saturday, the ninth day of the Lunar New Year) .
In any case, since this Friday night until early morning of Saturday are the right timing for Tiangong praying ceremony, the Association decided to open the Theanhou Temple for the night session tomorrow (Friday) from 6 pm to 10pm.
Earlier this month, the government approved the opening of Chinese temples on the New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, and the opening hours from 6 am to 2 pm.
Thean Hou Temple issued a statement on Thursday stating that the day session of praying hours on 19 Feb (Friday) will be from 6am to 2pm as per government’s earlier announcement, and then the temple will reopen for night session on the same day from 6 pm until 10 pm.
” Our Association is grateful for the government’s accommodating and understanding. We will fully comply with the standard operating procedures drawn up by the government and give our full cooperation.”
The statement emphasized that the prayers are not required to make any appointment for the visit. Nevertheless, only 30 prayers will be allowed at any one time. Moreover, in order to comply with the sanitizing process imposed by the government, the Thean Hou Temple will accept the last batch of prayers at 1 pm (day session) and 9 pm (night session) respectively. Hope the prayers will understand it.
“All children under the age of 12 ,and those over the age of 60 with chronic diseases as well are not encouraged to visit Thean Hou Temple for their safety sake. We hope that everyone will work together to fight against the pandemic.”