Chingay parade

The Chingay Parade is an annual street parade held in Malaysia and Singapore as part of the Chinese New Year festivities, usually in celebration of the birthdays of Chinese deities or in some cases with the procession of the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin).^[1] The name "Chingay" derives from Hokkien, conflating two words: chin-gē (真藝) meaning "true art", and chng-gē (妝藝) meaning "art of costume". PAYM (People's Association Youth Movement) has been an active contributor to Chingay in Singapore. Today, the parade is celebrated by all communities of both Malaysia and Singapore.^[1]

In November 2024, Singapore and Malaysia announced a joint effort to nominate the Chingay Parade for inclusion in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This collaboration aims to recognize the parade's cultural significance in both countries and is scheduled for submission in March 2025, with a decision expected by the end of 2026.^[2]

Chingay procession was held in celebration with the birthdays of the Chinese deities or the procession of the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin). It was held to worship and enjoy with the deity. During the earliest procession in more than 100 years ago, the earliest English newspapers Echo in Malaysia adopted the word Chingay Procession for this special event.^[3]

Chingay originated from China, and the Penang Chinese first performed Chingay during deity processions.^[4] It is a street art where the performer balances a giant flag that ranges from 25 to 32 feet (7.6 to 9.8 m) in height and about 60 pounds (27 kg) in weight.

Hoy en día, en Malasia y Singapur, el Chingay no solo es interpretado por chinos, sino que este arte ha atraído con éxito a malayos e indios. Se ha convertido en una singular representación multirracial. La popularidad del Chingay en Penang lo ha convertido en uno de los hitos culturales más impresionantes, así como en una importante atracción turística. ^{[ 4 ]}

El desfile de Chingay fue declarado Patrimonio Cultural Nacional en 2012. ^{[ 5 ]}

El desfile de Chingay tiene su origen en un concurso de decoración de carrozas celebrado en Penang en 1905. Esta práctica se extendió al resto de Malasia en la década de 1960 y, con el tiempo, llegó a asociarse con el Año Nuevo Chino.

La segunda procesión de Chingay se celebró en 1926 para conmemorar el cumpleaños del Dios de la Prosperidad. La tercera procesión de Chingay se celebró en 1957 para celebrar el centenario del Ayuntamiento de George Town.

En aras de asegurar la existencia perpetua de Chingay, la comunidad china en Malasia trabajó mano a mano para convocar a los entusiastas de varias áreas a formar el comité de enlace de Penang Chingay en la década de 1960. ^{[ 6 ]}

En diciembre, se celebra anualmente un desfile de Chingay en la ciudad de George Town . ^{[ 7 ] [ 8 ]} Este evento anual, que atrae tanto a residentes como a turistas, comienza por la tarde en Brick Kiln Road (ahora Gurdwara Road), serpenteando por las calles de la ciudad antes de terminar en la Esplanade . ^{[ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ]}

El desfile de Chingay en Johor es celebrado anualmente por el Templo Chino Antiguo de Johor Bahru el día 21 del primer mes del Año Nuevo Lunar desde 1870. ^{[ 10 ] [ 5 ]} Participan los cinco clanes principales del estado, que son cantoneses , hainaneses , hakka , hoklo y teochew . ^{[ 11 ]}

En 1972, debido a diversos riesgos de incendio, incluyendo lesiones, muertes y daños a la propiedad, el gobierno de Singapur aprobó una ley para prohibir los fuegos artificiales en Singapur. ^{[ 12 ]} Como resultado, la imposibilidad de lanzar fuegos artificiales para celebrar el Año Nuevo Lunar causó descontento general y redujo el entusiasmo público entre la población mayoritariamente china de Singapur. Según la Asociación Popular (PA), el primer ministro Lee Kuan Yew decidió organizar un desfile de Chingay para animar la ocasión. ^{[ 13 ]}

El 4 de febrero de 1973, PA y la Asociación Nacional Pugilística de Singapur organizaron conjuntamente el primer desfile de Singapore Chingay, un desfile callejero desde Jalan Besar hasta Outram Park que incluyó carrozas, actos acrobáticos, danzas del león y del dragón, zancudos y otras actuaciones. ^{[ 14 ]}

El desfile, que en su mayoría era chino, se convirtió en un evento multicultural a partir de 1977, cuando grupos malayos e indios comenzaron a participar en las actuaciones, lo que marcó un precedente importante en el carácter general del desfile, que se ha vuelto predominantemente multicultural, a pesar de la continua presencia de actos tradicionales chinos, como danzas del león y zancudos, hasta el día de hoy.

En 1985, el desfile recorrió Orchard Road por primera vez, una decisión que prevalecería durante gran parte de su historia posterior. Si bien este cambio podría atribuirse al deseo de los organizadores de acercarlo a los turistas a lo largo de la principal zona turística y facilitar la organización en un tramo de carretera relativamente largo y recto, también reforzó el carácter cada vez más desinizado del desfile. Esto se evidencia aún más cuando, en 1987, se añadió un toque internacional al desfile con la participación, por primera vez, de un grupo de Japón con su carroza patrocinada por The Straits Times .

The Chingay Parade became an evening-to-night parade in 1990, changing the overall feel of the parade towards one in which lights and pyrotechnics dominate. In 2000, the parade was shifted out of Orchard Road to the Civic District centering at City Hall, an area steeped in Singaporean history and culture. Construction works at the City Hall area resulted in the parade marching through the streets of the Chinatown district for the first time. Faced with limited space for spectator stands and a much more complicated and winding route in these locations, however, the parade moved back to Orchard Road in 2004 along with an effort to introduce audience participation and involvement in the traditionally passive parade. Firecrackers were let off for the first time in the parade that year. Despite the authorities allowing the firecrackers to be let off under some safety procedures, it was decided that the Chingay be preserved. In 2008, the parade was once again held at City Hall, with the route lasting from the City Hall building to The Esplanade. For the 2009 parade, it was centralised around Parliament House with the performers going around the Padang and also featured a magical Grand Finale (MAGICBOX@Chingay 2009). That year was also the first year that the telecast on television was delayed by one day. In 2010, the parade took place on part of the Formula One Marina Bay Street Circuit route.

Post-parade street parties have been held since 2004, with the exception of 2007. An estimated 150,000 spectators attended the 2009 Chingay Parade on 1 February. One million Singaporeans watched the parade on television and another 16.3 million homes and hotels across Asia received the television broadcast through Channel NewsAsia.

The 2011 Chingay Parade was held on the 11 and 12 February. It opened with a Fire Party, and included the largest moving multi-ethnic performances, the first travelling dance competition within the parade, a spectacular finale where thousands of performers flooded the parade ground holding candle lights and an inaugural colourful Arts District/ Carnival.^[15] It also included activities in which the public could participate, such as the Teresa Teng Look-Alike Photo Contest^[16] and the Chingay Paparazzi competition.^[17]

The 2013 Chingay parade was held on 22 and 23 February. In 2014, Chingay was held on 7 and 8 February at the F1 Pit Building. Some 70,000 individuals ushered in The Year of the Horse.^[18]

The 2015 Chingay was planned to involve some 11,000 performers from 150 organisations, including 760 overseas performers from 15 groups, in the largest celebration yet. Themed "We love Singapore(SG)", the main Chingay 2015 was planned to be held at the F1 Pit Building on 27 and 28 February, while a street party along Orchard Road involving youths would be held on 1 March.^[19]

The 2018 Chingay involved 2,000 parade volunteers and 6,500 parade performers, and also featured many examples of smart technology, including dancing robots and driverless cars. The 2018 Chingay was the first year to have a free street parade and carnival as part of the celebration, and followed a 1.5 kilometre route, double the length of the usual 720 metres.^[20]

The 2019 Chingay was purposed to commemorate Singapore's Bicentennial^[21] such that understanding of the island nation's history expanded beyond marking 200 years of Sir Stamford Raffles' arrival on the shores of Singapore in 1819^[22] to a beginning that was even earlier at 1299 when the Kingdom of Singapura (also known as Temasek) was established. The theme for Chingay 2019, ‘Dreams Funtasia’,^[23] recognised the significance of the past, present and future of Singapore.

The 2020 Chingay was postponed and replaced by "eChingay Parade" instead due to COVID-19 pandemic, together with 2021 Chingay.

• Sitio web oficial de Chingay de Malasia
• Sitio web oficial de Singapore Chingay
• Imágenes interactivas de 360 ​​grados del desfile Chingay 2011 de Singapur.
• Exhibición de la Gran Bandera de Chingay
• Emoxis-Chingay
• Fotos del desfile de Chingay 2010
• Vídeo del Festival Chingay en Singapur 2013