Withdraw, deposit money on first day of spring for better fortune

PETALING JAYA: Li Chun marks the beginning of spring and is the first of the 24 solar terms according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
This year, it falls on Feb 4.
Where previously people would celebrate the beginning of Li Chun by worshipping and giving offerings to the gods and performing ceremonies for a prosperous new year, that practise has changed considerably over the past few years.
The trend of depositing and withdrawing money on this auspicious day now seems to be the norm, with many queueing up at banks and cash deposit machines to conduct their transactions believing it can help grow their wealth and ensure good luck in the new year.
The practice is that people would either withdraw or deposit their cash at a specific time, based on the zodiac year they were born.
Some would deposit their money on Li Chun, believing it to be a divine event that sets their fortune for the rest of the year.
For others, including Fengshui master Linda Tan, it is the practice of withdrawing that would multiply their fortunes.
Tan, who prefers to be called Aunty Linda, said the cash notes should be kept inside an Ang Pow, and should then be placed in a wallet for a whole year.
"The notes' serial numbers should contain certain digits. It should end with the number eight and is even better if you could get the last digits ending with a '38' or '28'. The notes can be RM10 or even RM50 if you wish," she told theSun today.
On claims by other Fengshui experts that the practice made no sense, Tan said: "It depends on each individual. If you believe in it, then it will happen. If not, then no. It all boils down to your heart."
Meanwhile, in JOHOR BARU, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar allowed hundreds of people to gather at the grounds of Istana Bukit Serene today to mark the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar.
People believe that they can absorb good aura on this day at temples or public parks, which will bring a lot of good luck in the coming Chinese New Year.
The palace grounds, some of them told theSun, are full of "positive energy".
Sultan Ibrahim made two surprise appearances to meet the people.