The event, organised by Bagan Barisa
n Nasional together with more then 30 organisations, was held at Lorong Tanjung Aman 4, off Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, and drew a crowd of over 5,000 people.
Many Indian and Malay children were thrilled when they lit paper lanterns with their parents and family members before taking part in a kilometre-long lantern procession in the vicinity.
Led by a Jalur Gemilang flag bearer and a dragon dance group, the people closely followed Penang Barisan chief Teng Chang Yeow, who opened the event, Bagan Barisan leaders and 32 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the 15 minute-long procession on Saturday.
Some 1,000 colourful paper lanterns and candles were given away free at the event, which was held from 6.30pm till 11pm.
Factory operator B. Paremeswari, 33, said she wanted her sons Jesse Eleazar, seven, and Issac Benjamin, six, to experience a Chinese festival.
“I was especially surprised to see a group of Chinese kindergarten children dancing to a Tamil number on stage,” she said, adding that it reflected respect toward another’s culture and language.
Factory assistant supervisor Norazizul Rahman Jamaluddin, 35, said his elder daughter Nur Farah Nabilah, 10, joined a Gangnam Style dance performance while his younger daughter Nur Farah Farzana, six, danced to an Indian song at the event.
“We are excited as this is our first time attending a lantern festival after reading about it in the media,” he said.
Grandfather Phong Kok Wah, 59, brought his wife and their three grandchildren to the event, noting that they did not want the young ones to miss out on the excitement.
Barisan’s Bagan parliamentary constituency coordinator David Chua, who is also Bagan MCA Youth chief, said the festival was no longer enjoyed by just the Chinese community, but by other races as well.
“It is a non-religious festival and therefore, all races can celebrate it together,” he said.
Some 20 children aged between three years and 12 years old from Little World Kindergarten also performed Chinese, Malay and Indian dances in tune with the 1Malaysia concept.
Ho Kee Siang, 37, from the Seberang Prai Saolim Martial Arts Association said 50 students aged between six years and 18 years performed 20 different shaolin stunts at the event, which included those that used long and short weapons.
Highlight of the event was a traditional Chinese mask changing performance by Danny Goh and his wife, Li Hong from the Yan Yang Tian Te Ji Group in Kuala Lumpur.
The duo also performed several folk songs and acrobatic stunts such as spinning bowls on sticks, fire baton balancing on the mouth and escaping from chains tied to the body.
Some 300 dancers, mainly women, from the Lily Tan Modern Dance Studio performed a Gangnam Style flash mob and several line dancing items, while another 330 members from the Butterworth Chinese Traditional Dance Group performed qi gong and modern dances.
Big Bowl Station owner K. K. Lim was a crowd-puller among the 60-odd stalls with his unique teddy bear faced deep-fried Korean pocket burgers, while others sold various snacks from chicken wings, fried bihun to spring potatoes and Taiwan ice jelly.
Young Malaysian Movement North Seberang Prai branch added splendour to the festival by exhibiting 41 lanterns that were submitted for a competition.
Many of the creatively-designed lanterns used recycled materials including ping pong balls, shuttlecocks, straws, palm leaves, plastic bottles and shells.
A community lantern-making competition was also held at the Super Tanker Food Court at Taman Lip Sin on Saturday as part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.
Lanterns of various designs and colours were up for display including exotic ones which included those with bird and flower-shaped motifs.
Winner Ching Eng Hong, 50, a printing shop owner, captivated the hearts of the judges with his rectangular garden-themed lantern.
He walked away with a RM200 voucher from Sunshine Square.
Also present were Bayan Baru Barisan coordinator Por Joo Tee and Batu Uban coordinator Goh Kheng Sneah.
Many Indian and Malay children were thrilled when they lit paper lanterns with their parents and family members before taking part in a kilometre-long lantern procession in the vicinity.
Led by a Jalur Gemilang flag bearer and a dragon dance group, the people closely followed Penang Barisan chief Teng Chang Yeow, who opened the event, Bagan Barisan leaders and 32 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the 15 minute-long procession on Saturday.
Some 1,000 colourful paper lanterns and candles were given away free at the event, which was held from 6.30pm till 11pm.
Factory operator B. Paremeswari, 33, said she wanted her sons Jesse Eleazar, seven, and Issac Benjamin, six, to experience a Chinese festival.
“I was especially surprised to see a group of Chinese kindergarten children dancing to a Tamil number on stage,” she said, adding that it reflected respect toward another’s culture and language.
Factory assistant supervisor Norazizul Rahman Jamaluddin, 35, said his elder daughter Nur Farah Nabilah, 10, joined a Gangnam Style dance performance while his younger daughter Nur Farah Farzana, six, danced to an Indian song at the event.
“We are excited as this is our first time attending a lantern festival after reading about it in the media,” he said.
Grandfather Phong Kok Wah, 59, brought his wife and their three grandchildren to the event, noting that they did not want the young ones to miss out on the excitement.
Barisan’s Bagan parliamentary constituency coordinator David Chua, who is also Bagan MCA Youth chief, said the festival was no longer enjoyed by just the Chinese community, but by other races as well.
“It is a non-religious festival and therefore, all races can celebrate it together,” he said.
Some 20 children aged between three years and 12 years old from Little World Kindergarten also performed Chinese, Malay and Indian dances in tune with the 1Malaysia concept.
Ho Kee Siang, 37, from the Seberang Prai Saolim Martial Arts Association said 50 students aged between six years and 18 years performed 20 different shaolin stunts at the event, which included those that used long and short weapons.
Highlight of the event was a traditional Chinese mask changing performance by Danny Goh and his wife, Li Hong from the Yan Yang Tian Te Ji Group in Kuala Lumpur.
The duo also performed several folk songs and acrobatic stunts such as spinning bowls on sticks, fire baton balancing on the mouth and escaping from chains tied to the body.
Some 300 dancers, mainly women, from the Lily Tan Modern Dance Studio performed a Gangnam Style flash mob and several line dancing items, while another 330 members from the Butterworth Chinese Traditional Dance Group performed qi gong and modern dances.
Big Bowl Station owner K. K. Lim was a crowd-puller among the 60-odd stalls with his unique teddy bear faced deep-fried Korean pocket burgers, while others sold various snacks from chicken wings, fried bihun to spring potatoes and Taiwan ice jelly.
Young Malaysian Movement North Seberang Prai branch added splendour to the festival by exhibiting 41 lanterns that were submitted for a competition.
Many of the creatively-designed lanterns used recycled materials including ping pong balls, shuttlecocks, straws, palm leaves, plastic bottles and shells.
A community lantern-making competition was also held at the Super Tanker Food Court at Taman Lip Sin on Saturday as part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.
Lanterns of various designs and colours were up for display including exotic ones which included those with bird and flower-shaped motifs.
Winner Ching Eng Hong, 50, a printing shop owner, captivated the hearts of the judges with his rectangular garden-themed lantern.
He walked away with a RM200 voucher from Sunshine Square.
Also present were Bayan Baru Barisan coordinator Por Joo Tee and Batu Uban coordinator Goh Kheng Sneah.
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