Li Ling Divine Festival

Li Ling Divine Festival|Areas
Li Ling Divine Festival|Date
Li Ling Divine Festival|Historical evolution
Li Ling Divine Festival|Events

Li Ling Divine Festival| Areas

Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong Island

Li Ling Divine Festival| Date

The 15^thday of the fourth lunar month

Li Ling Divine Festival| Historical evolution

There are different explanations about the origin of Li Ling Divine Tower:

According to legend, there used to be ghosts haunting the Pok Fu Lam Village, with strange sounds and ghostly figures appearing every night, causing distress to the residents. Later on, a villager dreamt of a young girl who called herself “Li Ling Divine” and promised to drive away the evil spirits for the villagers. Since then, there were no more hauntings in the village. To show their gratitude towards the divine sister, the villagers built Li Ling Divine Tower as an offering to bless their locality.

Another legend tells that in ancient times, due to poor medical knowledge among villagers, they would seek help from deities through prayer when they fell ill. At that time, a Taoist priest performed rituals and invited a woman named Li Ling to possess her body in order to resolve illnesses. After the death of the Taoist priest, villagers raised funds and built Li Ling Divine Tower as a commemoration.

In addition to worshipping at Li Ling Divine Tower on Li Ling Divine Sister’s birthday on April 15th of lunar calendar each year, during Mid-Autumn Festival’s Fire Dragon Dance on August 15th of lunar calendar annually, fire dragon dance teams also pay homage at Li Ling Divine Tower.

Li Ling Divine Festival| Events

Taking the example of Li Lingxian’s birthday in 2010, that year it was organized by Pok Fu Lam Village Residents Welfare Association:

First, let the lion dance and martial arts club members pay respects to the gods, then the villagers take turns paying respects and changing clothes next to the tower. After changing clothes, the villagers also pay respects to the village’s land deity. Afterwards, the lion dance team performs at a recreational society within the village for residents. After completing the ceremony in Pok Fu Lam Village, the procession will go to Choi Yuen Village to pay respects to their land deity before returning to Pok Fu Lam Village Residents Welfare Association.