Nine Emperor Gods Festival: Devotees across Malaysia walk across hot coals

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It's called the Nine Emperor Gods festival, and for nine days it draws throngs of worshippers to selected temples in Malaysia to carry out numerous rituals. The climax of the festival is on the ninth night, when devotees walk across hot coals. Our correspondent Rian Maelzer was at a temple in Kuala Lumpur to take in the events.

The air hangs thick with the smoke of incense as crowds of devotees pack this temple to make their offerings and their prayers during the nine days of the Nine Emperor Gods festival. The Taoist celebration begins on the eve of the ninth lunar month.

RIAN MAELZER KUALA LUMPUR "The practice of worshipping these Nine Emperor Gods was brought to this country by migrants from Southern China. But these days the festival is most fervently celebrated here in Southeast Asia."

Legend has it that the nine were righteous men who rose up against the Qing dynasty, and that in death, the Imperial court conferred their spirits with the title gods or at least that's one version. The Nine Emperor Gods are believed to be patrons of prosperity, wealth and good health.

WONG SOON KIAT TEMPLE VOLUNTEER "This place began as just a shack, my grandmother told me. But worshippers came here and when their prayers were granted they donated money to build this temple."

Devotees don white clothes as a symbol of mourning for the gods and many undertake strict vegetarian diets for the nine days, especially those planning to take part in the fire-walking ritual.

CHO HOCK HENG FIREWALKER "Doing the firewalking brings good fortune and helps to protect our families and keep them safe no matter where they travel."

The climax of the festival involves spirit mediums and sedan chairs carrying statues of the gods which devotees then transport across hot coals.

MARIANNE AND BERT BEEKES DUTCH RETIREES "We came last Wednesday for the first time, the first day, and then they told us you have to come back on this Wednesday for the people walking on the fire. It was amazing. Very special. I don't think I'd like to do it."

But dozens of devotees were all keen to take part in this fiery cleansing ritual as their ancestors did for generations before them.

Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Kuala Lumpur.