A CELEBRATORY mood enveloped the Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) building along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town, where crowds gathered for the Lantern Festival.
Upbeat melodies rang loud as families and friends reconnected with time-honoured traditions through a series of activities and performances.
Many tried crafting lanterns out of red ang pow packets and were able to take home their handcrafted pieces.
Others wrote auspicious characters on papers pasted on the walls.
The curious spectacle of a Zumba party, with participants dancing to Chinese New Year songs, enticed many spectators on the sidelines to join in the fun.
As the event was held on the eve of Chap Goh Meh, there was also the tossing of mandarin oranges into a symbolic pond set up within PCTH’s premises.
A long queue of people waited to sample dumplings, tang yuan and ang koo kuih made by Penang Hokkien Association’s women’s section members.
The women’s section chairman Looi Chooi Mooi said they wanted to highlight delicacies which had traditionally been an integral part of festive celebrations.
“A Hokkien family’s table is always bountiful during such occasions.
“While we were unable to bring every item here, we chose these three for their significance.
“Across China, tang yuan is widely eaten on the 15th day of Chinese New Year as it represents the full moon, togetherness and reunions.
“Folks in some regions also eat savoury dumplings due to the association with prosperity.
“In Malaysia, ang koo kuih is favoured as their tortoise-like shape symbolises longevity.
“Food is a key part of any culture and we hope visitors are able to ‘taste” the history behind it,” said Looi.
“There was also an assortment of treats from food trucks and small vendors.
“As the crowd tucked in, stage performances kept them entertained,” she added.
There were rousing lion dance, a dragon dance and thunderous drum routines, alongside folk dances and a children’s singing competition.
The annual event was organised by the PCTH’s culture and education sub-committee.
Shanghai-based couple Shan Bin, 54, and Gu Jia Jia, 50, said they had intentionally timed their trip to coincide with Chinese New Year so they could experience Penang’s version of the festivities.
“As Chinese people, we’re very proud to see the occasion and traditions celebrated with such spirit here.
“It’s very lively and there are so many things happening.
“We really enjoyed ourselves,” Gu said.
French tourists Elodie Bourdie, Agathe Beucher and Charlotte Loubaresse, all aged 26 from Paris, said the event was unlike anything they had experienced before.
“The place was pulsating with energy. People were dancing, everyone was joyful and there were good vibes all around,” said Bourdie.
Loubaresse said they chose to visit Malaysia as it offered unique experiences compared to other destinations.
PCTH chairman Tan Sri Tan Khoon Hai said this year’s Lantern Festival was especially meaningful as the organisation had recently marked its 150th anniversary.
“Our mission has always been simple – to unite the Chinese community, promote our culture and serve the community.
“We cherish tradition, uphold cultural roots while fostering ethnic harmony,” he said.
Tan said lanterns were more than just festive decorations.
“They symbolise reunion, light and hope.
“These words carry profound meaning in a multicultural, multi-ethnic society like Malaysia’s.
“It reminds us that a harmonious society does not exist in the absence of differences; it does so with understanding and tolerance,” he said.
