THE Chingay parade has long been synonymous with Penang, where over the years, the annual cultural event has enthralled millions of locals and visitors.

The parade traces its origins to a float-decorating competition held in Penang in 1905. The name “Chingay” is derived from “chin yi” in the local Chinese Hokkien dialect, which means “true art”.

Initially, Chingay performances were held only to celebrate the birthday of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, but today, such performances are also held during auspicious state and national functions, like the opening of the annual year-end Pesta Pulau Pinang and Chinese festivals.

The signature of Chingay is the carrying of gigantic bamboo flags in street processions. While the original religious Chingay flags were 15m to 18m giants, cultural Chingay flags are about 12m tall. The shorter flags are more manoeuvrable, and allow acrobatic elements to be introduced as a crowd pleaser.

The Penang Chingay Association can be regarded as the custodian of the art. When the state government of Penang undertook efforts to stage Pesta Pulau Pinang as an annual trade fair in 1970, the Chingay street procession was one of the highlights. By then, this cultural performance had evolved into an activity geared towards promoting tourism in the state.

This year, the parade featured 2,000 performers, six Chingay troupes, 15 lion dance troupes, five dragon dance troupes and an Indian dance troupe, who impressed the crowd in George Town. – December 12, 2017.