KITCHEN GOD

KITCHEN GOD

ACTORS :

A)  GRANDFATHER

B)  GRANDMOTHER

C)  FATHER

D)  MOTHER ( AH SEE)

E)   DAUGHTER ( PHAIK SIM)

F)   SON ( HOCK SOON )

G)  TEENAGE SON ( HOCK KHIM)

THE KITCHEN GOD

THERE IS LAUGHTER AND INTERACTION AMONGST THE FAMILY MEMBERS (AH KONG, AH MAH, FATHER AND HIS TWO SONS) BEHIND STAGE….  WHILE A MOTHER ( AH SEE) AND HER DAUGHTER (PHAIK SIM ) ARE SEEN IN THE KITCHEN GETTING DINNER READY.

SCENE 1 :

MOTHER: PHAIK SIM, I THINK YOU HAD BETTER CALL YOUR AH KONG, AH MAH AND THE OTHERS FOR  DINNER  NOW….

PHAIK SIM :  ( CALLING OUT LOUDLY….)  AAAH  KONG, AHH MAH…

MOTHER:  ( QUICKLY INTERRUPTS )  “  HEY !! THAT’S NOT THE

                     WAY TO INVITE THEM… GO AND ACCOMPANY THEM IN..

PHAIK SIM : OKAY  MUM  ( AND SHE WALKS  TO THE END OF  THE  STAGE TO CALL OUT……….)  “ AH KONG, AH MAH, PAPA AND BROTHERS.. DINNER IS   READY..!!”

AH KONG AND OTHERS  ( BEHIND STAGE…)  OKAY, WE ARE COMING.

…THE YOUNGEST SON (HOCK SOON) IS SEEN TO BE THE LOUDEST  AND HAPPIEST AND SHOUTS  “ WHATS  SPECIAL TODAY    MUM..”  ( THEY WALK SLOWLY INTO THE KITCHEN AREA…AS  MUM  RESPONDS TO HOCK SOON…..)

MOTHER :   AI YAR.. THIS FELLOW … COME IN FIRST AND  YOU WILL

                      KNOW LAR….

PHAIK SIM AND MOTHER :   (PULLS.. OUT CHAIRS FOR GRANDPA AND GRANDMA.. WHILE THE ELDERST SON (HOCK KHIM) GETS  A CHAIR FOR HIS FATHER).

HOCK SOON : ( IS SEEN GRABBING  A BOWL OF RICE TO EAT  AND IS ADVISED BY HIS FATHER TO HAVE PATIENCE  AND WAIT FOR ELDERS TO DINE  FIRST..)

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FATHER ; YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ELDERS TO DINE FIRST

MOTHER :  YES, SON, YOU MUST ALSO  INVITE YOUR ELDERS TO EAT FIRST ..THATS PROPER…

HOCK SOON : SORRY MUM… ..

(GRANDPA AND GRANDMA SMILE  AND NOD THEIR HEADS ACKNOWLEDGING  THEIR GRANDCHILDREN’S  TABLE MANNERS.)

GRANDPA :… THAT’S THE WAY, CHILDREN. THIS IS OUR CHINESE CULTURE… IT’S GOOD THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE GUIDING YOU AND TEACHING YOU GOOD CHINESE TABLE MANNERS.

HOCK KHIM : GRANDPA, WHY DO CHINESE HOMES USE  ROUND TABLES ?

HOCK SOON : I KNOW! I KNOW !  I KNOW WHY… SO THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO RUSH FOR OUR FAVOURITE CORNERS…

( THERE IS LAUGHTER ALL ROUND )

GRANDMA :  WELL, WELL, PERHAPS  YOU ARE RIGHT, HOCK SOON…

BUT LET ME EXPLAIN FURTHER, CHILDREN…  WHEN WE DINE, OUR FOREFATHERS CALL IT ‘ THUAN  YUEN” …  A  GATHERING… AND YUEN MEANS  “ A REUNION’… AND  A REUNION SIGNIFIES UNITY OF FAMILY MEMBERS”

HOCK KHIM :  OH, I SEE…NO WONDER MOST CHINESE HOMES USE ROUND DINING TABLES.

PHAIK SIM :  AH MAH… CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT CHINESE TABLE MANNERS…     

GRANDPA : ( INTERRUPTS QUICKLY..)  LIFTING A SPOON OR CHOPSTICKS BEFORE THE ELDERS DO IS CONSIDERED ILL MANNERED. ….   AND FINISHING BEFORE ELDERS DO IS ALSO CONSIDERED ILL MANNERED.

FATHER : SO YOU SEE , WE HAVE ALL GOT TO WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT FROM AH KONG AND AH MAH BEFORE WE START EATING..

GRANDMA :  OKAY, CHILDREN… LET’S  EAT… MMMM, YOUR MOTHER WILL  PREPARE SOMETHING SPECIAL TOMORROW  FOR THE KITCHEN GOD !

CHILDREN :  AH KONG, AH MAH, .. CAN WE DINE NOW!

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GRANDPARENTS  :   NODDING THEIR HEAD IN APPROVAL

HOCK SOON :  SO WHAT’S SPECIAL TOMORROW, MUM?

HOCK KHIM :   PRAYERS FOR THE KITCHEN GOD TOMORROW….

MOTHER ; THAT’S RIGHT,   HOCK KHIM…  . THIS  LITTLE FELLOW KEEPS

ON ASKING TOO  MANY QUESTIONS.. LET GRANDPA EXPLAIN.

GRANDPA : OKAY, AH  SEE… NOW CHILDREN, LISTEN CAREFULLY,

                     TONITE IS THE 23RD DAY OF THE CHINESE 12^TH LUNAR MONTH..

HOCK SOON… (RAISING HIS HANDS)   I KNOW! I KNOW! I KNOW!

                              LUNAR MEANS ‘MOON” ..

MOTHER : (VERY STERNLY ) SHHHHH,  HOCK SOON…DON’T  INTERRUPT

HOCK KHIM :… YA LAH, THIS FELLOW THINKS HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.

HOCK SOON : JUST EXPLAIN, MAR.. ….KOH KOH WONT KNOW…

MOTHER : THERE YOU GO AGAIN… BEING THE YOUNGEST YOU MUST

                      LEARN TO RESPECT  ELDERS !

GRANDPA : ALRIGHT…. THERE IS AN ANCIENT CHINESE PRACTICE OF  WORSHIPPING THE KITCHEN GOD ON THE 24^TH DAY OF  THE 12^TH LUNAR MONTH THAT IS  ALMOST A WEEK BEFORE  CELEBRATING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR

                     

HOCK KHIM : (WITH CURIOUS LOOKS) WHAT’S  ITS  SIGNIFICANCE, 

GRANDPA ?  ( HOCK SOON.. PRETENDS TO COUGH.. TO  IRRITATE HIS BROTHER… )

GRANDPA :  ONE WEEK BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE CHINESE    WILL HONOUR THE KITCHEN GOD KNOWN AS EITHER ZAO CHWEN. ONE OF      THE MOST POPULAR  GODS CREDITED WITH THE INVENTION OF FIRE      
          
GRANDMA : LET ME ADD SOMETHING I KNOW,  THE KITCHEN GOD IS NOT A JUDGE OF ONE’S CULINARY TALENTS, ( LAUGHTER ALL ROUND) BUT RATHER AN OVERSEER OF A HOUSEHOLD’S MORAL CONDUCT.

HOCK  KHIM  :  HE OVERSEES OUR MORAL CONDUCT.

HOCK  SOON   : AI YAR   WAAAA SEE  AR  !!… GOT SUCH THING   MEH ? 


HOCK KHIM :    YES , LIKE IN SCHOOL YOU KNOW..MERITS AND DEMERITS


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HOCK SOON :   AND YOU GET YOUR  REPORT CARD  ON YOUR BEHAVIOUR.

HOCK KHIM :   (RAISES HIS VOICE) ARR.. YOU DON’T THINK YOU WILL GET A GOOD REPORT ON YOUR  BEHAVIOUR…

MOTHER : COME ON, COME ON,  SONS…… SPEAK SOFTLY AND LOVINGLY.

PHAIK SIM : (STARTS GIGGLING ON HEARING HER  BROTHERS’ ARGUMENTS.)

FATHER : HOCK SOON.. PAY ATTENTION TO GRANDPA FIRST.

HOCK SOON : SORRY.. SORRY…

GRANDPA : NEVER MIND… MY GRAND SON IS AN INTELLIGENT BOY. HE IS MAKING COMMENTS WHICH ARE LOGICAL AND SENSIBLE..
 
( HOCK SOON : SHOWS HIS DISPLEASURE  AT  THIS  STATEMENT )


HOCK SOON : (GIVES A CHEEKY   SMILE.. AND MOVES OVER TO STAND NEAR HIS GRANDPA..… MOTHER GIVES A STARE AT HOCK SOON )

GRANDPA : (STANDS  UP AND GOES NEAR THE STOVE….. & EXPLAINS..) WE DON’T HAVE KITCHEN GOD STATUES BUT IN CHINESE HOMES, HE MAY BE REPRESENTED BY A LONG RED PAPER BANNER INSCRIBED WITH SYMBOLIC GOLD CHARACTERS

GRANDMA :   SUCH  RED BANNERS ARE  USUALLY PASTED NEAR A KITCHEN STOVE TO REPRESENT THE KITCHEN GOD. AND IN FRONT OF THIS BANNER WILL BE AN ALTAR CONTAINING AN INCENSE BURNER AND A PAIR OF CANDLE HOLDER.

MOTHER :   AND IT  IS  OUR DUTY TO HONOUR THE KITCHEN GOD WITH INCENSE  AND CANDLES

PHAIK  SIM : YES, BROTHERS, I ALWAYS SEE MUM BURN INCENSE AND CANDLES ON THE 1^ST AND `5^TH DAY OF EACH LUNAR MONTH.

HOCK SOON  : ( VERY CURIOUSLY ASKS… )    WHO IS THIS KITCHEN GOD ?

THERE IS ABSOLUTE  SILENCE  ON STAGE …  .. …STAGE  LIGHTING BECOMES DIMMER…… WHILE A SPOT LIGHT FOCUSES ON THE KITCHEN ALTAR  AND THE GRANDPARENTS…….  ( ….WHILE GRANDMA AND GRANDPA  EXPLAIN..)


GRANDMA : THERE ARE SOME LEGENDS CONCERNING THE KITCHEN GOD. BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE… THE KITCHEN IS ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT 
IN OUR LIFE.  WE NEED FOOD EVERYDAY  AND  FOOD IS COOKED IN THE KITCHEN.


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GRANDPA :   IN OTHER WORDS, THE KITCHEN IS PART OF OUR LIFE  AND IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE CLEAN , SANCTIFY  AND HONOUR  THIS SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HOME THAT KEEPS OUR LIFE GOING. THIS IS THE SPACE  WHERE FIRE AND HEAT ENERGY ARE USED TO  COOK FOOD.

(STAGE IS BRIGHTENED  UP AGAIN..)


HOCK KHIM (INTERRUPTS)   : YES GRANDPA YOU ARE RIGHT..…  WE  LEARN ABOUT  CHINESE TRADITIONS  AND CULTURE  IN  SCHOOL  TOO AND WE KNOW  THAT IN   CHINESE PHILOSOPHY.. THE  UNIVERSE CONSISTS OF  THE   WATER, , FIRE, WOOD, METAL AND EARTH ELEMENTS.

HOCK SOON : WHICH MEANS  THE CREATOR OF ‘FIRE” MUST BE  REVERED AND HONOURED AS THE KITCHEN GOD

GRANDPA :  VERY WELL SAID, MY  SON….  SO YOU SEE, FIRE  IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR LIFE… WITHOUT WHICH WE ALL CANNOT LIVE ON THIS PLANET… SURELY THERE MUST BE A CREATOR…. AND SINCE ANCIENT TIMES OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE BEEN REVEING AND HONOURING THIS UNSEEN CREATOR WHO HAD CREATED THIS VERY IMPORTANT  ELEMENT IN OUR UNIVERSE

 GRANDMA :   AND LEGENDS CONCERNING THIS KITCHEN GOD REVEALS  AND TEACHES SO MANY THINGS IN LIFE WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN LONG FORGOTTEN. SO ITS YOUR DUTY, MY CHILDREN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PACTICE SO THAT IT COULD BE PASSED ON  FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

( STAGE IS DARKENED EXCEPT FOR BRIGHTLY LIGHTED UP KITCHEN GOD ALTAR..AGAIN .. THERE IS ABSOLUTE SILENCE  ON STAGE AS A NARRATION IS HEARD…    )



(STAGE IS SLOWLY BRIGHTENED  UP AGAIN………)




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MOTHER :  SO YOU SEE,  CHILDEN ….ITS APPROPRIATE THAT WE  CLEAN AND HONOUR THE KITCHEN GOD ANNUALLY BEFORE  CELEBRATING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR

GRANDMA  (INTERJECTED) : CLEAN THE KITCHEN NOT ONE YEAR ONCE BUT DAILY.. TO ENSURE  GOOD HYGIENE IN THE KITCHEN, LADIES !!  AND THE KITCHEN GOD IS LIKE AN  AUDITOR… HE  KEEPS A RECORD OF OUR MORAL CONDUCT AND REPORTS IT TO THE JADE EMPEROR ON A YEARLY BASIS !! ( AND THERE IS LAUGHTER ALL ROUND)

 HOCK SOON (SAYS LOUDLY… )    : AND GENTLEMEN TOO .. DON’T JUST EAT AND LEAVE THE KITCHEN..HELP MUM WASH PLATES TOO… OR ELSE THE KITCHEN GOD WILL EMAIL A BAD REPORT ON YOUR CONDUCT TO THE JADE EMPEROR    !!  

(Laughter all round )

GRANDPA :  LET US NOT FORGET THAT WE NEED ‘ HEAT OR FIRE ” TO PREPARE  FOOD.  ACCORDING TO CHINESE  PHILOSOPHY, THE EARTH IS MADE UP OF 5 ELEMENTS SUCH AS WATER,WOOD, FIRE , EARTH  AND METAL…THUS SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, THE CREATOR OF ‘FIRE” WAS  REVERED AND HONOURED AS THE KITCHEN GOD, AND SINCE THEN THIS PRACTICE HAS BEEN PART OF OUR CHINESE TRADITION  TILL TODAY.


FATHER : AND I GUESS NOT MANY CHINESE ARE AWARE OF THE INNER MEANING OF THIS WORSHIP OF THE KITCHEN GOD

CHILDREN : (LISTEN ATTENTIVELY)   

    

GRANDMA : THERE ARE LOTS OF STORIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE KITCHEN GOD.. BUT  THESE  ARE ALL MYTHS  AND  FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS THEY HAVE  ENABLED  US TO REMEMBER AND PRACTISE OUR CHINESE  MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

PHIK SIM :    PEOPLE SAY THAT WE HAVE TO BRIBE THE KITCHEN GOD WITH SWEET AND STICKY FOOD SO THAT HE PRESENTS ONLY OUR MERITS TO THE JADE EMPEROR.

FATHER :  PHAIK SIM… THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BRIBING GOD.. HE KNOWS WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN A GOOD OR NOT. THERE IS NO WAY ONE CAN BRIBE GOD.. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. AN ALTAR PLACED IN THE  KITCHEN  IS A CONSTANT REMINDER TO US THAT WE SHOULD  LIVE A LIVE FULL OF MORAL VALUES AND VIRTUES.

IF YOU SERVE ALL AND LOVE ALL, YOU  EARN MERITS.

( THERE IS AN AIR OF APPROVAL ALL  ROUND AS THE……STAGE  LIGHTING GETS DIMMER AND DIMMER…. WHILE  ANOTHER NARRATION IS HEARD)

The myth of the Kitchen God becomes  insignificant if we see this traditional Chinese practise  in a  logical way. In other  words, the kitchen is part of our life. Food is our primary need, other things are secondary . Because of this the Chinese have given  much  importance to the kitchen. We get all our nourishment from  the kitchen. And it’s the place where ‘ fire” or “ heat” energy is used. Heat / fire has always been revered in many traditions across the globe. And to honour this gift from the Unseen God, many myths have emerged concerning the Kitchen God rituals and traditions. Logic tells us that we cannot bribe God. He is All Pervading and All Knowing… and the Red Banner in Chinese in the kitchen is a constant reminder for us to honour the ‘fire” and “space” element through our word, thought and deed. ***************** ( STAGE IS BRIGHTENED UP AGAIN….) HOCK SOON ;  NO WONDER.. ALL MY FRIENDS SAY THAT THEIR FAMILY ALSO PRAY TO THE KITCHEN GOD. FATHER :  I GUESS  THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER  STAYS TOGETHER. HOCK KHIM : YES, ITS RATIONAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE .. OUR EARTH IS MADE UP OF THE 5 BASIC ELEMENTS GRANDPA JUST MENTIONED.. AND OUR BODY ALSO CONTAINS THE FIRE ELEMENT AND IT’S ONLY PROPER THAT WE REVERE THIS  “FIRE ELEMENT” WITHOUT WHICH OUR HUMAN LIFE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIST EVEN FOR A SECOND…   PHAIK SIM : (GIGGLES) I ALSO UNDERSTAND NOW THAT, WE HAVE TO THANK GOD FOR KEEPING OUR HOME SAFE WHEN MOM COOKS USING  HEAT  ENERGY! (GRANDPA AND GRANDMA : BOTH   NOD THEIR HEAD..) GRANDPA :   HMMMMMMMM..  OUR   CHILDREN MAKE US PROUD. THEY UNDERSTAND CHINESE CULTURE.. AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL KEEP THIS TRADITION ALIVE.. AND BE GRATEFUL TO  MOTHER NATURE ! MOTHER : ITS  NOBLE   TO  REVERE AND HONOUR OUR KITHCEN ONCE A YEAR.   FOOD GIVES US LIFE AND THUS ONCE A YEAR WE PREPARE DELICIOUS FOOD AND OFFER THEM SYMBOLICALLY TO THE KITCHEN GOD….   I KNOW  MANY HOUSEHOLDS  SAY  LOTS OF NEGATIVE THINGS  IN THE KITCHEN, BUT I DON’T DO THAT…   ( AND SHE GIVES A BROAD SMILE) GRANDMA : I KNOW MY DAUGHTER IN LAW DOES HER  DUTY WITH LOVE ALWAYS  DOES  NOT HURT ANYONE NOR SPEAK BAD ABOUT THEM IN ************** THEIR ABSENCE. THAT SHOULD BE THE WAY AND THE TRUTH FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW… DO YOU UNDERSTAND, PHAIK SIM… AND BOYS MAKE SURE   MY  FUTURE GRAND DAUGHTERS IN LAW ALSO PRACTISE THIS NOBLE CHINESE TRADITION. HOCK SOON :…. YES, … KOH KOH’S WIFE  WILL DO IT… HOCK KHIM  ( GETS  ANNOYED WITH THAT STATEMENT.. AND CHASES HOCK SOON WHO  RUNS FOR COVER……) (WHILE THE TWO BOYS ARE RUNNING ROUND THE TABLE.. STAGE LIGHT DIMINISHES.. AND FOCUS IS AGAIN ON THE KITCHEN GOD ALTAR….. AND ANOTHER NARRATION IS HEARD…. (STAGE IS BRIGHTENED UP AGAIN….) HOCK SOON : (POINTING HIS CHOPSTICKS AT THE KITCHEN GOD ALTAR..)                             GRANDMA  :  THAT’S NOT THE WAY, MY SON…ITS CONSIDERED ILL MANNERED TO POINT CHOPSTICKS  IN ANY MANNER YOU LIKE. GRANDFATHER : ALRIGHT, I THINK EVERYONE HAS FINISHED EATING..WE BETTER GET A GOOD SLEEP  NOW  AND LET US ALL GET UP EARLY TOMORROW  TO OFFER OUR THANKSGIVING TO THE KITCHEN GOD. CHILDREN : OKAY,  AH KONG…. PHAIK SIM :  LET ME HELP  YOU, MUM…. I WILL CLEAN UP THE DINING TABLE. HOCK SOON :  CHIH ! CHIH !, THE KITHCEN GOD IS SURE TO GIVE YOU AN ‘A”  PHAIK SIM ; THANK YOU                             MOTHER : YES  THAT’S THE SPIRIT , PHAIK SIM… “HELP EVER HURT NEVER” *************** GRANDPA AND GRANDMA : GOOD NITE, CHILDREN. CHILDREN : GOOD NIGHT STAGE LIGHT DIMS…… CURTAIN CLOSES…… ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCENE  2 CURTAIN RAISES……. MORNING SCENE…  STAGE IS LIGHTED UP.. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ARE SEEN CLEANING THE KITCHEN GOD ALTAR AGAIN.   A LIVELY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IS HEARD….. WHILE THE OTHERS ARE SEATED  ROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE AND TALKING AWAY. MEANTIME, GRANDPA AND GRANDMA ARE AWAY … MARKETING MOTHER  :   PHAIK SEE , COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A CLOTH AND CLEAN THE ALTAR TABLE  AND  ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE TWO CANDLE HOLDERS ARE CLEANED TOO .. AND DO IT QUICKLY….ITS ALMOST TIME FOR PRAYERS                                                                           PHAIK SIM  :  I UNDERSTAND MUM AND I WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY (PHAIK SIM  GOES TO THE  ALTAR TO CLEAN AND  BRINGS  THE TWO CANDLE HOLDERS TO THE  DINNING TABLE TO CLEAR THE OLD CANDLE  REMAINS  )  AND HOW DO YOU READ THESE CHINESE CHARACTERS MUM?                        MOTHER   :SZE LING ZAO CHWEN   (READS THE CHARACTERS ON THE ALTAR ) PHAIK SIM  : ( FOLLOWS MOTHER’S READING OF THE CHINESE WORDS)                           I SEE !!  SO THAT’S THE WAY ITS READ    MOTHER :  AND   PHAIK SIM ! BEFORE YOU CLEAN THE ALTAR DONT’T YOU THINK IT IS BETTER TO PUT OLD NEWSPAPERS ON THE TABLE SO THAT THE CANDLE WAX  DO NOT SPILL ALL OVER. PHAIK SIM  :  OK MUM. I WILL  GET THE OLD NEWSPAPERS STRAIGHT AWAY. ( PHAIK SIM GOES  TO THE KITCHEN TABLE TO GET THE NEWSPAPERS) MOTHER   :  YOUR AH KONG AND AH MAH SHOULD BE BACK ANY MOMENT NOW AS THEY HAVE GONE  TO THE MARKET VERY EARLY  THIS MORNING ENTER GRANDPA ( AH KONG ) AND GRANDMA ( AH MAH ) MOTHER   :  AH PA  AH MA, BOTH OF YOU ARE BACK . **************** PHAIK SIM  :  AH KONG , AH MAH. WAS THE MARKET VERY CROWDED THIS  MORNING ? GRANDPA  :  YES YES. THE MARKET WAS VERY CROWDED THIS MORNING. I GUESS MOST OF THEM ARE BUYING THINGS FOR THE KITCHEN GOD PRAYERS TODAY.                            GRANDMA :  OH YES TODAY IS THE 24TH DAY OF THE CHINESE 12TH LUNAR MONTH…JUST A WEEK BEFORE WE CELEBRATE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. AND TODAY ITS OUR TRADITION TO HONOUR THE KITCHEN GOD HERE ARE THE FRUITS AND SOME “TNIH KUEH  FOR THE  ALTAR. MOTHER     : PHAIK SIM,  CAN YOU PLEASE WASH  THE FRUITS                             BEFORE PLACING THEM ON THE ALTAR. PHAIK SIM    :  YES MUM. WHAT ABOUT THE “ TNIH KUEH “ ? MOTHER     :   YES, PLACE THE TNIH KUEH BESIDE THE FRUITS.                                                                         MOTHER     :   AH PA ,  AH MA, WHEN PHAIK SIM IS DONE  BOTH OF YOU CAN START OFFERING  YOUR PRAYERS TO THE KITCHEN GOD                           PHAIK SIM    :   MUM, EVERYTHING IS READY. CAN I START PRAYING NOW?  ( PHAIK SIM GOES  TO THE ALTAR TO START BURNING THE JOSS STICKS MOTHER     :   (INTERRUPTS ) WAIT ! WAIT A MOMENT ! PHAIK SIM, LET  AH KONG AND AH MA PRAY FIRST. IT IS OUR  CHINESE  CUSTOM TO LET THE ELDERS  PRAY FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE OTHERS ACCORDING TO THEIR  SENIORITY. PHAIK SIM   :    OH I SEE, MUM. I AM SORRY. AND THEY ALL GATHER ROUND THE KITCHEN GOD ALTAR ,   AH KONG AND AH MAH  PRAYS  TO THE   KITCHEN GOD FOLLOWED BY PHAIK SIM’S MOTHER   AND THEN PHAIK SIM.  … STAGE LIGHT DIMINISHES SLOWLY … CURTAIN FALLS…  (LIGHT CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IS TO BE PLAYED.. THERE IS ABSOLUTE SILENCE ***************** ON STAGE…. WHILE ANOTHER NARRATION HEARD. CURTAIN IS  CLOSED   WHILE ALL ACTORS GET  READY ON STAGE TO SING A CHINESE BHAJAN……A LONG BANNER CONTAINING  ONE OF SWAMI’S TEACHINGS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO THE HALL BY YOUTHS WHILE THE  BHAJAN IS BEING SUNG