29/05/2026
🇲🇾 Dato Ali, a local Dato Kong in Georgetown, Penang. He's known for blessings for health rather than the usual wealth.
A lot of Dato Kong here comes in the form of rocks. Maybe it's inspired from Tu Di Gong (Land deity) belief, where they used to pray to rocks and trees.
If it is a rock or a branch that is similar to the shape of a person, it might be put up to an altar also.
There's a saying in Chinese culture: 万物皆有灵- everything has spirit within it.
Anyways, it's his birthday tomorrow, and might be his last as the government might take back the land for redevelopment.
A bit sad and frustrating since the Port Weld Reclamation area is the last kampung of its kind, but who am I to say, development is inevitable, right?
And everything has a price, even cultural heritage, that is a collective memory where a community holds close to heart.
Feel free to come to his birthday celebration at Port Weld Reclamation area, next to one of the jettys, there's free food and show!
From 30/5 all the way to 2/6, be there or be square!
