PENANG: Visit the Snake Temple in Penang in conjunction with the Year of the Snake, and join the temple in its Chinese New Year celebrations.

A series of activities has been planned for the fifth day of Chinese New Year on 2 February, when a snake dance performance will be held with other snake-related games and activities.

A specially trained lion dance troupe will be performing the unique snake dance.

The highlight of the event is a ritual held to seek guidance on the economic outlook of Penang for year 2025 on 3 February midnight.

The economic outlook forecast for 2025 is held in conjunction with the birthday of Master Qing Shui, also known as Chor Soo Kong, where a temple was constructed in 1805 to honour the master.

The temple was later known as Snake Temple as many snakes in the area sought shelter at the temple, which sits on the land owned by Penang Hokkien Kongsi.

Penang Hokkien Kongsi Coordinator Datuk Cheah Cheng Ean said a series of activities is in the pipeline to celebrate Chinese New Year at the temple, with many snake-related icons set up for visitors to take photographs.

Besides snake dance performance, there will also be a drum performance, traditional games, Chinese puppet show, Chinese orchestra performance, cultural dance, acrobatic show and others, including 43 stalls set up to sell food and drinks.