Incense Burner / Glass Sand / Five Kinds of Grains
An incense burneris a container used for burning aromatics such as fragrant powders, resin incense, or incense sticks in religious rituals, cultural practices, and various belief traditions. It comes in many shapes, materials, and sizes, ranging from simple designs to finely carved and ornate pieces. Its main purpose is to hold lit incense securely and allow the fragrant smoke to spread either as a way of communicating with the sacred or simply to create a reverent atmosphere. There is also a belief that the smoke rising from the burning incense carries one’s prayers up to heaven.
The incense ash and sand inside an incense burner serve as the base material for inserting incense sticks so they stand upright easily, and so that the falling ash lands on the base instead of scattering. Commonly used materials include incense ash or glass sand, sometimes mixed with other auspicious ingredientssuch as Ngow Cheng Jee to enhance good fortune in worship.
Meaning and significance: Incense Ash: A material that already comes from burning incense, so it is directly connected to worship rituals. Glass sand: Believed to be an auspicious substance symbolizing purity and cleanliness, and associated with good luck and prosperity.
Ngow Cheng Jee (five kinds of grains): An additional ingredient added according to belief e.g., mung beans, soybeans, red beans, unhusked rice, sesame to support good fortune and one’s destiny.