Hong Kong worshippers line up to ‘borrow money’ from goddess Kwum Yum

Hongkongers hoping for a prosperous year queued last night to borrow “money” from goddess of mercy Kwun Yum in an annual ritual believed to bring good luck.

Crowds began queuing on Saturday at temples dedicated to the goddess, which opened at 11pm yesterday, for the event held on the 26th day of the first lunar month.

About 1,000 worshippers queued last night outside the Kwun Yum Temple in Hung Hom while crowds flocked to the Lotus Palace in Tai Hang and Tin Hau Temple in Shau Kei Wan. Worshippers paid HK$45 to borrow a red note inscribed with an imaginary sum of money, usually worth millions of dollars.

They also take home a lettuce and a lai see envelope full of peanuts, lotus seeds and other nuts symbolising a prosperous year. They have to return the notes before the following Lunar New Year.

At the temple at Hung Hom, the amounts available ranged from HK$30 million to HK$1 billion.