GEORGE TOWN: The ongoing Penang Temple Festival, better known as Miao Hui, is drawing large crowds to the heritage enclave here.
The event, which kicked off at 4pm on Saturday (Feb 1), saw 12 roads closed, causing traffic to come to a crawl around the area.
Thousands of visitors converged at the event, themed "Penang Lang, Let's Celebrate".
It is expected to attract some 200,000 visitors, both local and foreign.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 8pm at the main stage in Lebuh King.
Throughout the evening, the event would be a hive of festive activities with over 40 clans, guilds and associations involved.
Some 23 organisations will be staging cultural performances on 14 stages, while there will be up to 200 interactive booths.
Lion and dragon dances, cultural performance as well as showcases by various association and groups are among the highlights as visitors explore traditions and roots of the Chinese in Penang.
This will be the 26th edition of the Penang Miao Hui celebration, which started in 1999.
