CMS Lion Dance Team Melbourne - Chinese Masonic Society

Follow along the CMS drum cart.

Bendigo Easter Festival 2026 Torchlight Parade.

🇹🇭🤝🇦🇺

Teamwork makes the dream work :)

Dim Jing Hoi Gong ceremony of the CMS Dragon team's newest Fuzhou style lion. Chinese Masonic Society of Melbourne's president, Arthur Wu, taking honors in eye dotting the Dragon.

Thanks Leon from Singapore for the Dragon.

Hoi Gong! A traditional Chinese Lion Dance awakening ceremony hosted by the Chinese Masonic Society of Melbourne's lion dance team. The society was founded in the 1860s and has been performing the lion dance since the 1950s.

Traditionally known as Hoi Gong 醒獅開光 (Open Light/Awaken) and Dim Jing 点睛 or Dim Ngan (Dot Eyes), it brings to life a new lion through a number of rituals.

Before it has been dotted, a red sash or ribbon covers the lion's eyes. A bundle of pomelo leaves, gold flowers, joss paper and incense are tied to the lions horn using a dragon pearl ribbon, signifying steps in taming the lion in its awakening.

Long weapons will help tame and subdue an undotted lion.

Performers will clean themselves with water and pomelo leaves before starting, as this is a special and auspicious occasion. A quick chant and spray of water with the pomelo leaves by a senior paves the way for the eye dotting ritual.

The lettuce can be eaten and kept (its first meal), or sprayed out for prosperity. We've chosen to do both in this awakening. is reminiscent of courage and prosperity. A poem is read to guide the VIP on where to dot the lion, starting with its eyes, ears, forehead mirror, nose, mouth, horn and finally from head to tail.

The lion then slowly awakens, bowing to all four directions.

It's first choy cheng 採青 is a simple setup of a mandarin and lettuce. The mandarin is eaten and given to the VIP who has just eye dotted the lion, as a sign of mutual respect and appreciation for giving it life.

The lettuce, can be eaten and kept (its first meal), or sprayed out for prosperity. We've chosen to do both in this awakening.

The lion is now ready to serve.

Performance by CMS Teens.

Before it has been dotted, a red sash or ribbon covers the lion's eyes. A bundle of pomelo leaves, gold flowers, joss paper and incense are tied to the lion's horn using a dragon pearl ribbon, signifying steps in taming the lion in its awakening.