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By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, June 14: The three deities of Sam San Kuet Bong of Sam San Kuet Bong Temple, Kota Sentosa, will be flown back to Taiwan on June 16, and come back to Kuching on June 25.
According to Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, the deities originated from Taiwan. It has been agreed between the Sam San Kuet Bong Temple here in Kuching and its sister temple in Taiwan, that the deities will need to “return home” every three years.
“It is the promise made by Kapitan Tien Ted Hin and his committee who brought the deities over to Kuching from Taiwan,” Lo told DayakDaily.
He said when the devotees first started to set up the temple for the three deities, they did not have the financial means and hence, they did not make good on the promise in the initial years.
Later, when the community started to be prosper and gained the financial capability to do so, they have been faithfully keeping their promise.
He said the deities had travelled home in 2017 and 2019 prior to this upcoming trip.
As many as 20 temple committee members and devotees will bring the three brother deities home, where a grand welcoming reception will receive both the deities and the delegates.
Lo, who witnessed this religious practice for the first time, said such interaction augured well for the tourism industry here.
“It is the first time for me, to witness how devotees will bring the statue of the deities, which are quite heavy, on a plane to go back home.
“The interaction between the temple in Kuching and its sister temple in Taiwan is not only a religious exchange but also a cultural one that is very much appreciated as it augurs well for the tourism industry here in Sarawak,” said Lo.
Also present at the ceremony of inviting the deities of Sam San Kuet Bong Temple on a trip back to Taiwan was Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, Temenggong Dato Tan Joo Phoi, former Kota Sentosa assemblyman Alfred Yap. — DayakDaily
