Mom's colourful laundry
Sights of congested traffic along all highways suggested that the annual "Cheng Beng" is just around the corner as people are rushing either back to their hometowns or for preparations.
*Cheng Beng清明节- Celebration of tomb sweeping day, Its name denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime (踏青 Tàqīng, "treading on the greenery"), and also to tend to the graves of departed ones. -source from Wikipedia
I sighed as I watched the my family going through the list-to-do. I'm not going to my ancestors grave this "Cheng Beng", again. Well the best I can do is to write down the names of my great great great grandpa and grandma and aunty and uncle *inhales* and their sons their daughters on the paper offerings.
Things are going well except for some minor obstructions when my dog made the papers as her chew toy.
I am sad that I can't go back to my hometown in Kedah, of course besides not being able to honour, pray and giving offerings for my ancestors, I'll won't be seeing my uncles and aunts as well.
You see, for me (and perhaps for most of the people) Cheng Beng is not just a ceremony to pray and clean the graves of the ancestorsand giving thanks to the forefathers, it is also a time when families gather and meet up, perhaps enjoy quality time.
Hope to travel back there next year.
