CNY theme to weekly cultural event in JB

Jalan Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street in Johor Baru has been holding cultural events every Saturday. This month’s edition will include festive elements in conjunction with Chinese New Year.

JOHOR Baru Tiong Hua Association (JBTHA) will be injecting festive elements into its weekly activities at the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street every Saturday this month.

The association’s Jalan Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street committee chairman Jackie Lee Gek Peng said the activities were to hype up the Year of the Dragon celebrations.

“It is also to mark the completion of upgrading works by Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) along the street,” he said.

The activities will include a Chinese New Year singing contest on Jan 13 as well as Chinese calligraphy contest and feng shui talk on Jan 20.

On Jan 27, visitors can listen to a sharing session by representatives from different Chinese dialect clans on their respective Lunar New Year practices and traditions.

“I believe that this will be a meaningful event for families to get to know more about Chinese culture,” said Lee.

A free traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic will be available to the public on Jan 27.

Lee added that Jalan Tan Hiok Nee would be adorned with oriental-themed decorations to get everyone in the festive mood.

JBTHA president Ho Sow Tong said the association had been organising weekly programmes along the street for 14 years.

“The cultural street along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee aims to raise awareness of Chinese culture and heritage.

“I think the Saturday programmes have also contributed to drawing more visitors, which benefits local businesses in the surrounding area,” he said.