KLANG: Every year just before Chinese New Year, the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom New Village near here hosts its grandest event of the year, featuring beautiful flowers and glittering lights.
The annual Chinese New Year Lantern and Floral Festival has always drawn a huge number of visitors.
The village also transforms into an oriental wonderland with dazzling lanterns and beautifully-lit decorations.
This year is no exception but on a grander scale as the state-level Lunar New Year celebration organised by the Selangor state government will be held at the temple.
Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin will also attend the celebration on Feb 8.
The annual event has always been a collaboration between the temple, Jenjarom New Village residents as well as the almost 40 Chinese-based associations in the area, which all come under the umbrella of the Jenjarom Cultural Association.
“Last year, we decided that we have to step out of the Chinese-only criteria and embrace a Malaysian identity. Hence, our annual celebration, beginning 2024, represents a multiracial identity,’’ said association adviser Dr Lim Soon Kam.
In order to showcase and promote Malaysia’s racial unity and diversity – highlights, shows and entertainment at the temple’s annual festival now include Malay, Indian and Orang Asli cultural elements.
“We have Chinese drums, Malay kompang and Indian urumi together with Orang Asli musical instruments coming together in unison at the annual event,’’ he said.
“We are all Malaysians and want to share this joyous occasion with our countrymen of other races,” added Jenjarom New Village headman Ang Peng Kee.
