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Malacca ~ Harmony & Jongker Street
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These places of worship are namely Kampung Kling Mosque, Sri Poyatha Vinayagara Moorthy Hindu Temple and the Chinese temple, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. The coexistence of these three
distinct faiths is a testament to the religious pluralism of Melaka. The multiple styles revealed
in this mosque attest to the amalgamation of different cultures building
tradition that flourished in Malacca through the eighteenth century.
Furthermore, there are decorative motifs on the doors and windows and also the rooftop ornament, or mastaka. The mosque also has a blend of English and Portuguese glazed tiles.
To her left is the Queen of the Oceans (Ma Choe Poh), the guardian of fishermen, sailors, and sea travellers. The final deity is Hiap Tian Tye Tai or Kuan Ti Yeh, the favourite deity of merchants and traders. To the left of the main hall is an altar to the sage, Confucius. In the back are ancestral tablets of local Chinese and the "Kapitans China" of Melaka. "Kapitan China", which means "Captain of the Chinese" was a position created by the colonials to act as an administrator of the local Chinese community. The founder of the temple, Li
Wei King, was a Kapitan China and his portrait is enshrined in one of the
back halls. The temple was constructed by craftsmen using materials brought
in from southern China. In the back room is a sculpture of the deity with the head of an elephant and the body of a man with four hands. Lord Vinayagar is the deity revered for his wisdom and ability to remove obstacle so one could accomplish ones desire or goal. The side altars are dedicated to Vinayagars father, mother and younger brother deity, Lord Muruga. This is a sacred temple for
both the Chettiar (traditional Hindu moneylenders) and the Chitty (Peranakan
Indians who claim to have been in Melaka five hundred years ago). It's much the same as it was
since the 19th century - a narrow street in Melaka's Chinatown area, home to
the oldest buildings in the city, some dating back to the 17th century!
If you have sufficient time to
stroll through the street with eagle eyes, you can easily hunt and bargain
for the unique and valuable antique furniture, Chinese porcelain, brassware,
cast iron beds, lamps, coins and money notes, as well as the priceless
Buddha statues. While at Jonker Street, one
also has to exercise caution and be fairly knowledgeable to avoid purchasing
items passed off allegedly as antiques. However, Jonker Street is more than
just antique and souvenir shops. Apart from small traditional businesses,
there are also several art galleries.
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Jalan
Tukang Emas (meaning Goldsmith Street) is also nicknamed Harmony Street
owing to the existence of places of worship from Malaysia's 3 main religions
all within 50 meters of each other. 
Kampung
Kling Mosque
The arcade around the prayer hall is a series of
Corinthian columns, reflecting European influence. Chinese ceramic tiles
were imported to adorn the roof, the floor and the lower walls of the
mosque. 
Cheng
Hoon Teng Temple
Sri
Poyyatha Temple
Jonker
Street
Authentic
artefacts and relics. some dating as far back as 300 years, can be found
among a host of interesting collectibles, each with its own history and
mystery. 
