Thomas Tan
In keeping the traditions alive, three state assemblymen chipped in to fund the Chap Goh Meh celebrations at Taman Jaya Lake Garden at Petaling Jaya on Feb 14, 2014.
The Chap Goh Meh or the Fifteenth Night marks the end of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations and is celebrated with the traditional tossing of oranges into the water by single woman with hope that their true love will pick up the oranges. Chap Goh Meh is the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day.
The rain threatened to wash out the event as it stopped briefly before it started pouring again but did not dampen the festivities as the crowd kept getting bigger.
The event saw young unmarried ladies gathered at the lakeside throwing oranges which had been inscribed with names and contact numbers in search of good partners.
Others wrote good wishes on the oranges before throwing into the lake.
There were young men waiting with long pole landing net ready to scoop up the floating oranges.
Besides the traditional tossing of oranges, the crowd also came to enjoy the cultural performances. The God of Prosperity was present to distribute ang pow.
Guest of honour Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) deputy mayor Puasa Mohd Taib in his opening speech wished everyone Happy Chap Goh Meh and thanked the three state lawmakers Lau Weng San (Kampung Tunku), Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing) and Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara Utama) for organising the meaningful program for Petaling Jaya residents.
“I hope this program will continue to be carried out every year and, if possible, jointly with the council in the coming years, as has been done previously.
“We feel this is a good program providing an opportunity for state assemblymen (ADUNs) and Member of Parliament (MPs) to mix and mingle with residents and exchange viewpoints and ideas for the better development of Petaling Jaya,” Puasa said.
Lau Weng San and Yeo Bee Yin wished everyone a Happy Chap Goh Meh and Happy Valentine’s Day as the double celebrations occur once every 19 years.
Yeo, who is single, was asked by the emcee what she expects from a man as her future husband and she replied saying it was a most difficult question to ask politicians to say something of their personal life.
Rajiv Rishyakaran wished everyone a good Year of the Horse ahead in 2014.
“No matter what challenges come your way, I pray that you will be able to go through in your family life, your relationship, your work, your career and I pray that this country will overcome the turbulence, tension and that we will do well in the coming months ahead.
“In our ceramah in the last 13th General Election, we said, “Ini Kali lah!. So I would like to wish “Ini Malam lah!” for all single people. May your wish come true,” said Rajiv.
Rajiv was asked by the emcee to share something sweet on such a romantic night.
He smiled at her wife and said, “Dear Anna, I love you very very much from the bottom of my heart” which drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
After the speeches, the deputy mayor led the three state assemblyman and MBPJ councillors, including Lee Suet Sen who was the man behind the whole event, to the lakeside to do the traditional tossing of oranges.
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