Chingay 2012 - A Waterway Parade Of Love & Care

F1 Pit Building
Marina Bay
South, Singapore

February 2012 

Chingay Parade Singapore is known for its resplendent floats and multi-cultural local and international performances that are an insight to our festive traditions and delight the hearts of many Singaporeans and tourists.

 



The word Chingay is from the Hokkien dialect, of which the Mandarin equivalent is Zhuang Yi (妆艺） meaning "the art of masquerade". The festival began as a neighbourhood parade with only Chinese elements in 1973. Today, the Chingay Parade has evolved to be the grandest street and floats parade in Asia, showcasing the rich, vibrant multi-culturalism of Singapore and exciting cultures all over the world. 

 



 

  The majestic dragon flies in from the left, the phoenix from the right;
They meet in a dash of splendour and colour to open the parade of dreams...
[ Performers : China Shaanxi Huaxia Air Art Development Co Ltd (陕西华夏空中艺术开发有限公司) ]

A speedboat ferries the Guest-of-Honour into the arena...


 Beautiful maidens prance in and dance in the blue waters...
[ Performers : China Red Star Dance Troupe ]


A storm of fire ensues as the contingents march in...
[ Performers : PAYM ]



A water dragon flows in and splashes away the flames...


More dragons enter the foray...

 Including one made of young men entwined together... 
[ Performers : China Zhanjiang Human Dragon Dance Troupe
(中国广东湛江人龙舞艺术团) ]  

And another with a head of joss sticks...
 


 Aided by the Gods of Longevity on stilts...
[ Performers : Tian Loong Koong Stilt Walking Group (天龙宫高跷队) ,
Johor Bahru Hong Yang Sports Association, Malaysia (柔佛州洪扬体育会) ]

In flew maidens in green accompanied by cranes of white...

Our counterparts from other ethnic groups participated enthusiastically too...
[ Performers : Narpani , Tamil Language & Cultural Society ]
 

 Hailing from Kagoshima are the tourist ambassadors from Japan

performing the local folk song "Ohara-Bushi"...

[ Performers : Young Odoriren Team Kajyotan ]

 

 

Fairies trapped in Zorg Balls rolled by...

Then there were participants whose equipment malfunctioned...




  Chingay is a celebration of vitality, of colour, of culture, of age, and of size...

 

 

 

 
  

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More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa at :
Events - Chingay

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Sources

• "Origin of Chingay Parade in a Nutshell!" (03 March 2012). Retrieved from http://www.chingay.org.sg/2012/about.asp.
• "Foreign Highlights" (10 March 2012). Retrieved from http://www.chingay.org.sg/2012/foreign-highlights.asp.
• "Chingay 2012 On The Waterway" (10 March 2012). Retrieved from http://www.chingay.org.sg/2012/highlights.asp.
      

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River Hongbao 2012 - Lanterns & Nostalgia By The Bay

The Float @ Marina
Marina Bay
South, Singapore
 

 

River Hongbao 2012 lights up the modern cityscape of Marina Bay in a customary celebration of Chinese New Year. In a city where East meets West and modernity meets tradition, it’s an experience that bridges the past and the present.

It features an awe-inspiring display of over 70 giant lanterns, including lights in the form of the auspicious dragon, handcrafted by lantern masters from Chengdu.

As part of the collaboration with Guangxi, there were interesting performances by groups from Guangxi, Taiwanese singer Zhang Xiu Qing as well as local artistes and students. There was also a food street featuring over 40 stores and over 70 varieties of delicacies.

The lanterns were majestically-lit up at twilight, creating a kaleidoscope of colours...

 

Craftsmen from Guangxi (广西) exhibited their intricate handicrafts...

 

There was a beautifully-decorated living room full of yesterday's antiques

- including a radio that still works!

 

With nostalgic food and drinks from yesterday...

 

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More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa at :
Events - River Hongbao

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Sources

• "River Hongbao Singapore 2012" (02 March 2012). YourSingapore.com. Retrieved from http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/whats-on/festivals-and-events/river-hongbao.html.
• "River Hongbao 2012" (02 March 2012). ComeSingapore.com. Retrieved by http://comesingapore.com/events/view/9486/river-hongbao-2012.
              

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