Tam Kung Festival
筲箕灣譚公寶誕
The 8th of the 4th Lunar Month is the busiest day in Shau Kei Wan. Residents and shops in Shau Kei Wan, as well as people from other places in Hong Kong will come to celebrate Tam Kung's birthday, the "Tam Kung Festival" which is held once a year.
每年農曆四月初八，是筲箕灣最熱鬧的日子。不論是筲箕灣本區的居民和店舖，還是來自全港各區的市民，都專程來慶祝譚公的壽辰，即一年一度的「譚公寶誕」。
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Tam Kung Festival Celebrations in Shau Kei Wan
筲箕灣譚公寶誕慶祝活動
Hong Kong is the first place to celebrate the birthday of Tam Kung. In the beginning of the 20th century, the Tam Kung Festival in Shau Kei Wan already had God-worshipping plays and floral tribute scrambling. Later, there are other celebrations such as Tam Kung Parade and Parade of Floats.
香港筲箕灣是首個為譚公慶生的地方。早在二十世紀初，筲箕灣譚公誕已有演戲和搶花炮的酬神活動。到後期，更有譚公誕巡遊和飄色巡遊等慶祝活動。
The Origin of Shau Kei Wan Tam Kung Parade
筲箕灣譚公誕巡遊的由來
In 1937, Shau Kei Wan held a three-day "Disease Prevention Campaign", hoping to protect the safety of the people through the Tam Kung rituals. Later in 1961, there was an outbreak of cholera and Shau Kei Wan was devastated by it. Lacking education and knowledge of public health, people could only seek spiritual guidance. As a result, they tried to imitate the previous Tam Kung rituals to drive out the evil spirit. Surprisingly, the condition of the epidemic improved. Since then, residents of Shau Kei Wan have decided to hold a Tam Kung Parade every year to commemorate Tam Kung and pray for the safety and prosperity of Shau Kei Wan.
筲箕灣居民深信譚公有驅瘟逐疫的神力。1937年，筲箕灣曾舉行為期三日的「防疫大運動」，希望藉譚公出遊來保佑民眾平安。1961年8月，香港發生霍亂，筲箕灣一帶亦十分嚴重。在醫學衛生教育還沒普及的情況下，筲箕灣居民欲仿效過去譚公出遊的做法，於1961年8月26日正午十二時恭奉譚公仙聖出遊，驅除疫魔，結果疫情得到改善。筲箕灣居民堅信，疫情逐漸消散是譚公的功勞。自此筲箕灣居民為紀念譚公驅除瘟疫的事蹟，並表達對祂崇高的敬意，定下每年都會舉辦譚公誕巡遊，以護佑筲箕灣居民在未來一年能風調雨順、平平安安。
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