KLANG: The Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in the Jenjarom New Village has been working overtime to include multiracial and multicultural elements in its annual Chinese New Year Lantern and Floral Festival.
Event organising committee member Venerable Ru Xing said it was important to promote inclusiveness and togetherness in the community.
“We have been doing our best to highlight unity within the village and adjacent areas,” she said when contacted.
The highlight of the festival will be the state-level Chinese New Year celebration scheduled on Feb 8, to be graced by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
Venerable Ru Xing, the Petaling Jaya Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen temple deputy abbess, said this year, the organisers took a step further by inviting foreign heads of mission to the event’s recent inauguration ceremony.
“They included diplomats from Islamic countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. They readily accepted the invitation and showed a lot of interest as they were taken on a tour of the temple,” she added.
Since last year, the festival also included Malay, Indian and Orang Asli residents from neighbourhoods and villages in the vicinity.
A highlight of the festival is entertainment showcasing the culture, dance and music of the various multiracial communities.
Jenjarom New Village headman Ang Peng Kee said the villagers were overjoyed by the participation of other communities.
“We are all Malaysians and want to share this joyous occasion with Malaysians of all races. Since we went multiracial, we have started to receive many non-Chinese visitors from the nearby areas,” he added.
