Nine Emperor Gods Festival Vegetarian Stalls

Nine Emperor Gods Festival Vegetarian Stalls (28 September 2019)


The Nine Emperor Gods Festival is one of the Chinese festivities that are celebrated in a large scale in Penang. This Taoist folk festival culminates on the eve of the 9th Lunar Month, and the days leading up to it will see a hive of activity surrounding Nine Emperor Gods temples all over Penang.

Although I am Christian, and therefore do not involve myself in the religious aspects of the festival, I find it a good opportunity to enjoy festival delicacies, which are available in the greatest abundance and variety during this period.

Members' posts of Nine Emperor Gods Festival vegetarian food for 2019

People lining up to buy economy beehoon at the vegetarian stall at Lip Sin Garden. (28 September 2019)


People from various communities take advantage to try the vegetarian food. (28 September 2019)

Lip Sin Garden Nine Emperor Gods Festival Vegetarian Stalls

Lip Sin Garden in Sungai Dua, being a neighbourhood with a large Chinese population, is one of the places where you can find Nine Emperor Gods Festival vegetarian stalls. The stalls are put up all along Lengkok Nipah, and a few along Jalan Nipah, near to the Super Tanker Market. Each stall has its own operating hours. Some start selling in the early morning while some cater to the evening crowds.

My wife and I decided to visit the stalls at Lip Sin Garden because she has a friend who is operating a stall there. The friend, whom she calls Auntie Chong, has been operating a stall here with her family for a couple of decades already. Every year, she would be operating the stall (because if she miss a year, her spot would be taken over by other hawker she would not get it back again).

Auntie Chong's stall sells deep fried items. According to her, all the utensils for preparing the stalls are specially for vegetarian festival only. She was so pleased when she saw us visiting her stall. She immediately treated us to her deep fried carrot cakes. They have just come out of the wok, and you could still see steam coming out.

My wife's friend Auntie Chong at her stall selling carrot cakes (28 September 2019)


The carrot cakes are absolutely delicious. They are crispy on the outside, and soft and white on the inside.

"Do you like it?" Auntie Chong asked.

"Oh yes I do," I said.

"You must tell me the truth, don't say you like it just to please me!"

"Yes, yes, I absolutely do!" And I am indeed telling the truth. I enjoyed her carrot cake very much.

We couldn't just visit her stall and not buy anything, so we bought some more carrot cakes for my in-laws, as well as a sesame ball and deep fried taro.

Auntie Chong's stall (28 September 2019)