JOHOR BARU: Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Ibni Sultan Ibrahim is expected to officiate the Chingay parade in the city centre today.
State executive councillor Ling Tian Soon said the prince would be representing Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim to the annual event, which has more than 150 years of history.
He said the Johor Baru Chingay Festival, with the Chingay parade being the highlight, is rich with history and has cultural significance.
“Besides having religious elements, the event is also a celebration of Johor’s unique culture and heritage, making it an important annual affair in the southern state,” he said in an interview.
“There is also a common saying among the community that Chingay marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations for Johoreans.
“Each year, it is attended by people of various races as well as international tourists who want to be part of the festivities and enjoy the performances,” said Ling, who is state health and environment committee chairman.
He added that state unity, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar would be attending the parade on behalf of the Johor government.
In the past, the Chingay parade was graced by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, as the Johor Ruler in 2016, 2017, 2018, and once when he was Tunku Mahkota Johor or crown prince in 2016.
Last year’s parade was officiated by Tunku Ismail, who brought along his two young children, Raja Muda Johor Tunku Iskandar and Tunku Khalsom Aminah.
The Chingay Festival is celebrated by the Chinese in Johor Baru from the 18th to 22nd day of Chinese New Year. This year, the festival falls on Feb 15-19.
This year’s event is expected to attract about 500,000 participants and spectators as Malaysia and Singapore will be nominating Chingay into the Unesco intangible cultural heritage list in March.
Yesterday, also the third day of the festival, the city centre was a hive of activities as devotees and spectators gathered from as early as 8am to watch the rituals.
Aside from lion and dragon dances, there were shouts of “heng ah!” (fortune) and “huat ah!” (prosperity) to add to the lively atmosphere.
At 11am sharp, five deities on palanquins – each representing the Hainanese, Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien and Teochew dialects – were brought out of the Johor Ancient Temple in Jalan Trus here by large groups of devotees.
Johor Baru Tiong-Hua Association president Ho Sow Tong said the parade is an annual “tour” for the deities to bless the city and its people for the year.
“The festival kicked off with a lighting ceremony on Feb 15, followed by a street cleaning ritual on Feb 16 to ward off ‘bad spirits’ along the parade route to make way for the deities.
“On the final day of the festival tomorrow (Feb 19), the deities will be brought on foot back to Johor Ancient Temple where they will stay for the rest of the year,” he said.
