Chingay Reflections

 The official theme for Chingay Parade 2016 is “Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore” As the  theme suggests, Chingay 2016 will be the brightest ever with the biggest full-scale illuminated show. The theme is also inspired by the legacy of our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and the values embodied by our Pioneers such as Racial Harmony and Social Cohesion, Caring Community, Resilience as a Nation, Can-do Singapore spirit and uphold high moral values. Chingay 2016 represents our first step towards SG100 after our milestone SG50 celebrations where Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate core values important to Singapore. Together we celebrate these values that have transformed us from a fishing village into a modern metropolis and bring us forward into the future with confidence.

From performers to spectators, Chingay celebrates as one where age, race, language and creed are no barriers. Amidst the celebration, it is also important that Singaporeans remember those who are less fortunate than us.To keep Chingay an inclusive event, People’s Association invited 5,500 beneficiaries from Voluntary Welfare Organisations and their caregivers to the Parade. 

During the segment called “Because We Are Different, We Are One”, we got to see for the first time in Chingay’s history, an item presented by the lnter-Religious Organisation (IRO) and their collaboration with 30 religious groups. We will also see various Special Effects Dragons including the “Lighted LED Flying Dragon” and Multi-cultural performances – Chinese, Malay and Indian Cultural performances. These Chinese, Indian and Malay cultural performances will also highlight Singapore’s unique and rich heritage.

Chingay Parade could well be a treasured glimpse into the different cultures of Singapore and it is the people like you and me that play a part in building a cohesive and harmonious society that we live in today. Through the segment “United and Vibrant Community”, we are able to see performances put up by communities from diverse background, showcasing the vibrancy of our community through various performing arts and dance genres. Chingay has also evolved to be more than just a local event but an event that garner international interests as well. With 14 international groups from 9 countries participating in Chingay this year, you will also get to experience the dynamism of different cultures beyond Singapore.

Chingay has moved away from its original purpose of a street parade for the masses first celebrated in 1973 to make up for a total ban on the long held tradition of letting off fireworks during the Lunar New Year. The origins of Chingay are not actually in the carnival-like street parade that we are treated to today. Chingay in its original form is very much what has been described as a Hokkien Chinese tradition, once held usually in conjunction with religious festivals with a usual parade of deities, and it is in this form that it is still very much celebrated across the causeway in Johor Bahru on the 21st day of the Chinese New Year.The parade is without a doubt still very much a celebration of what Singapore is and what perhaps Singapore has become. 

                                                                   1980s

Today, the parade has in its recent editions become a show of the spectacular, combining a street-like parade in which the people from all major races and from all walks of life participate, with a well-orchestrated show of lights, music and effects which never fail to dazzle the audience. As I watched the Chingay Parade, I was awed by the exhilarating performance that was put up and I could see that the performers have definitely put in a lot of hard work. As my mother and aunt are part of this year's Chingay, I could see how much effort they put in. After knowing that being part of Chingay was a great experience, I would also like to be part of next year's Chingay.

After watching the Chingay performance, I felt that the organizers have successfully fulfilled the purpose of bringing people from different walks of life together. People from different races, cultures and backgrounds got together to make this Chingay Parade a successful one. I could feel how everyone got together regardless of race, language or religion. I would like to thank the school for letting us have an experience to watch this Chingay Parade and I hope that the other batches would also get this chance.