About 100 devotees congregated at the Lao Zi temple here to witness the unveiling the deity Kwan Tai riding a horse statue to commemorate the birth of the sage, who founded Taoism.
There were treated to vegetarian lunch after consecration ceremony and a prayer session.
A ritual for the devotees to seek a change of fortune and to pray for good health throughout the year was also performed.
Lao Zi temple founder Kui Wai Pong, 70, advised the devotees to avoid spending lavishly and to live within their means.
Meanwhile, the temple's caretakers Kui Fook Weng, 40, said there were plans to upgrade and refurbish the temple's premises for a religious ceremony to be held in the middle of the year.
He said a statue of Confusius, which was ordered from China was expected to arrive soon.
Fook Weng said several activities including cultural preformances and a Chinese calliraphy demonstration would be held during the consecration ceremony of the 2.4m high Confucius statue.
"We have appealed to the state government to tar the road leading into the temple for the benefit of visitors."
"Our temple is well known throughout the country and is one of the main tourist attractions in Kuantan," he said.
Last year, Fook Weng said its sculpture of a golden dragon was listed as the longest in the country in the Malaysia Book of Records.
The temple also boasts of the landscaped garden and other attractions including the 7m high Lao Zi statue, the God and Goddess of Heaven and the brass image of the Goddess of Mercy.
For more information on the temple's activities, call 019-9482020 or 016-9362629.
This article is taken from [The Star Metro] Friday 27 March 2009, article that wrotten by Simon Khoo
