By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Jan 15: Chinese New Year (CNY) is quickly approaching, and this year, a change in pace is anticipated as we say goodbye to the ferocious tiger and welcome the gentle rabbit.
This year, CNY is celebrated on Jan 22, ushering in the Year of the Rabbit, bringing good health, happiness, and fortune to all, especially to the Kenyalang Park Commercial Centre, where the CNY bazaar ‘hopped’ back to life.
It has indeed become a yearly tradition to look forward to visiting the Kenyalang Park CNY Bazaar, where one can purchase a vast assortment of CNY necessities.
Crowds pour into Kenyalang Park every night as the CNY bazaar continues until Jan 21.
At many of the 225 stalls, eager vendors hawk a variety of festive items such as CNY cookies, kek lapis Sarawak (Sarawak layered cake), nian gao (sticky rice cake), bak kwa (dried meat snack), preserved fruits, fresh flowers, plants, and fruits, fireworks, and even fresh sea cucumber.
Shops are decked out in flaming red CNY decorations, many of which feature the adorable rabbit, as well as giant red lanterns and greeting banners hung from the ceiling, creating an even more celebratory ambience.
According to the staff of one of the shops DayakDaily visited, rabbit-themed decorations are popular among the younger crowd. Still, customers prefer classic and timeless festive decorations for their homes.
Meanwhile, a visit by DayakDaily found that visitors from Peninsular Malaysia are captivated by the uniqueness of the CNY bazaar, which exemplifies racial unity and harmony.
Amy Ng, a 35-year-old finance executive from Kuala Lumpur, said, “Even though it is a Chinese community festival, it appears that both Chinese and non-Chinese shoppers and vendors enjoy the celebration. The racial mix makes Kuching and Sarawak very special and unique.”
Lau Seng Kiat, 56, bought a bunch of kek lapis Sarawak to bring back to his family’s house in Perak for the upcoming CNY so that he could share a taste of Sarawak with his family, relatives, and friends.
“I bought several kek lapis Sarawak from two Malay stalls here to take back to Perak and serve to my family and friends.
“Sarawak’s kek lapis has always been my favourite as it differs from the cakes available at home.
“The fact that both Chinese and non-Chinese can do business at the CNY bazaar impresses me greatly as well,” he explained.
Another shopper, a local who only wants to be identified as Ng, told DayakDaily that she has been going to the bazaar with her family every year since she was a child to buy CNY essentials, particularly fireworks.
“This year, the fireworks being sold by the vendors appear to be more diverse, and their prices are also quite reasonable,” the loyal patron added.
In addition, a local vendor of mandarin oranges who only wished to be identified as Hui disclosed that this year’s mediocre harvest is driving up the price of large mandarin oranges.
However, the increase in mandarin orange prices has not deterred shoppers from purchasing several boxes, as mandarin oranges are among the must-have items for CNY.
Giving boxes of mandarin oranges to relatives, friends, coworkers, bosses, and clients is one of the CNY traditions that is still practised today, as it represents bestowing auspicious blessings on them.
DayakDaily wishes all a prosperous ‘Year of the Rabbit’. — DayakDaily
