By Ashley Sim and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 5: This year’s Chap Goh Mei celebration in Siniawan Old Town is bigger and better than ever, as the town returns to life once more to host the significant festival that marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration.
Siniawan was bustling with locals and tourists as early as 7am, waiting for the annual Ah-Nyong (Chinese goddess Guanyin) Traditional Street Procession to begin.
Crowds can also be observed congregating around the large altar table adorned with an assortment of fruits and kuih (cakes) as an offering to the deities.
The famous procession carrying the Chinese goddess Guanyin and other deities through eight villages, accompanied by lion and dragon dance performances, has existed for about a century.
Children of all ages were drawn to the various lion dances, which featured Hakka lions, Southern lions, and Northern lions, with many seen approaching and touching the ‘lions’ as they walked by.
Today, the traditional procession began at 8am and lasted until 2pm with the participation of 34 groups.
According to Kapitan of Siniawan, Bong Boon Kah, the procession started from Swee Guk Kung Temple and made its way through several other places such as Jalan Jugan Siniawan, Jalan Ta Foh Sak, Siniawan Old Town, Tanjung Durian, and Keranji before returning to the temple.
Bong also estimated that over 3,000 local Siniawans and visitors came to watch the procession, a popular attraction in Siniawan during Chap Goh Mei.
Meanwhile, another procession will take place tonight in Siniawan Old Town, with a parade of decorated cars, lanterns, various traditional performances, lion dances (including the Hakka Green Lion), and a fireworks display.
Also present were Deputy Premier of Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government; Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh; Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Serembu branch chairman Dylan Lai; and Bau District officer Constantine Gerald David Jonas. — DayakDaily
