If a single event could capture the essence of Singapore’s unique multicultural personality, it would be the Chingay Parade—an annual marvel of dazzling floats, dancing dragons and stilt walkers.
The word Chingay is equivalent to the Mandarin word 妆艺 (zhuangyi) which means the art of costume and masquerade in the Hokkien dialect. Here in Singapore, the Chingay Parade started in 1973 as a street parade to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Since then, it has evolved into an annual iconic event that showcases Singapore’s rich and unique multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan cultures.
The annual event is characterised by vibrant performers in elaborates costumes from different ethnicity, cultures and backgrounds; dazzling display of floats; huge intricate props and structures and cultural performances from all around the world. Chingay now owns the reputation as one of Asia’s largest street performance and float parade, a colourful epitome of the country’s multi-cultural society.
It may be held during the Chinese New Year festivities, but this wondrous event brings together people and performances from across Singapore’s cultural spectrum, and is celebrated by Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians alike.
With all its noise and gaiety, the parade was mooted over four decades ago as a way to compensate for the ban that had been placed on firecrackers, a customary Chinese New Year practice to drive away evil spirits.
Today, the Chingay Parade is one of the largest street performance and float parade in Asia—a shimmering celebration that extends from the original F1 Pit Building, via the back of Singapore Flyer, to NS Square (Marina Bay floating platform), where River Hongbao is also held.
2020’s celebration will see 6,000 volunteers performers displaying their talents in a showcase that centres on the theme ‘Colours in Harmony’. Highlights of the event include the release of 200 metres of firecrackers, stunning displays of fireworks, laser lights and pyrotechnics and both traditional and contemporary performances.
Chingay 2020 will take place from 31 January to 1 February, and visitors hoping to get a glimpse of Singapore’s unique multicultural tapestry can get their tickets at the event’s official website or click Read more. Chingay Parade Multicultural Street Performance Dance Art Costume Heritage FirecrackersRelated Links:
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