Steven Chen
Some 300,000 spectators will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the five deities of various Johor Chinese temples for the Annual Johor Bahru Chingay Parade which begins February 22.
The deities will be followed by performers from various lion, dragon and martial arts schools to the beat of Chinese drums. Several roads, almost a 10km stretch, will be closed on the day.
The procession will start from the Resting Temple, moving along Jalan Ulu Ayer Molek, Jalan Yahya Awal, Jalan Ayer Molek, Jalan Ibrahim, Jalan Wong Ah Fook and all the way back to the Resting Temple via Jalan Tun Razak.
The parade, which has become an annual event since 2001, will last for two days. The five dieties of the various Malaysian Chinese clans will be placed securely on sedan chairs and carried by devotees to literally ‘tour’ the city’s central business district.
Event highlights include dragon and lion dance troupes, costume parades and colourful floats. Thousands of local and foreign spectators and devotees are expected to line the streets to witness this unique annual event and to seek blessings of the respective deities.
CJMY
