The Night They Burned a Ship for the Spirits

On 11 January 2024, a giant royal ship moved through the streets of Malacca on wheels.

It was not being taken to the harbour.

Devotees had gathered at Yong Chuan Tian Temple for the Wangkang procession, a ceremony held only when the temple's mediums receive the command to organise it.

The replica barge was pulled into the historic city.

Floats and performers travelled with it.

The route stretched for about nine kilometres.

There were twenty-two stops.

At each one, priests carried out cleansing rites and commanded harmful spirits and other negative influences to board the vessel.

Then the ship moved on to the next stop.

The procession continued through the day.

By night, the Wangkang had crossed the city carrying everything the ceremony was meant to remove from it.

A shorter final procession began after dark.

The royal barge was taken to the place prepared for its departure.

Nobody put it in the water.

They set it on fire.

Within the ritual, the spirits gathered along the route were sent away with the burning vessel into another realm.

The ship's entire journey had taken place on land.