Weddings On Valentine’s

Valentine’s Day, the day of love, was the last day of our Malaysian itinerary. The next day would mark our early morning return to India. It was decided that we would take this day as a relaxed one and end with one more visit to Petronas Towers in the evening. Thean Hou Temple was one thing that was left on my list to visit so we started the day with it.

Thean Hou Temple is temple in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. Sitting with a large campus, this temple attracts many tourists, including people outside Chinese community. It was easily approachable by cab, and we were dropped right at the gate. Just at the entrance to the grounds, there is a statue of Guan Yin, set amongst rocks and a small waterfall.

Next to it were the statues of Chinese Zodiac Animals with their years and prime qualities. After clicking the photos of our birth year symbols, we moved forward. The large snakes and ladder setup on the floor next to the temple fascinated us. The entrance to the main temple building was blocked by some photographers clicking pictures of a group. Getting closer we realized it was wedding photographers surrounded by the newlyweds’ family and friends.

Wishing for their great future, we walked inside to the first floor of the temple. The sight surprised us. The temple was full of bridesmaids running around completing errands of their respective brides. There were at least seven to eight couples at that moment getting married at the temple that day. It then struck us that they had chosen Valentine’s Day as their day of love too.

Every corner of the country continued to amaze us. We spotted the marriage registration office next of the souvenir shops. The presence of this office inside the temple premises facilitated speedy documentation for the newlyweds, right on the day of their wedding. This really impressed us since it takes much longer waiting time back home in our own country. Getting registered right after the vows was indeed one of the greatest blessings.

We offered our prayers and lit incense sticks in honor of the deity. We even tried our luck at the fortune sticks called Chien Tung. The hullabaloo in the temple amazed us as every young couple tied the knots of their lifetime. It faintly reminded us of our own wedding. We made our way to the next floor of the temple which offered an incredible view of the city. Enchanted by the beauty, we fleetingly considered getting married all over again amidst this magnificent setup.

Follow me this April as I take you on a journey through our unforgettable Malaysian adventures, chapter by chapter.