NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN IPOH

Here is a write-up on the 3 day Chinese Cultural Festival that I visited last weekend.

Three days of Chinese culture

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHERYL HEW
CHERYLHEW@THESTAR.COM.MY

A visitor and her baby admiring one of the lanterns on display at the event.

STADIUM Indera Mulia in Ipoh and its large parking lot were filled with visitors keen to soak Chinese culture, art and tradition at a three-day carnival held there.

The carnival, which is part of the 30th National Chinese Cultural Festival, was open to visitors between Sept 20 and Sept 22. Thousands of visitors were seen browsing through the over 90 display booths.

Various traditional Chinese crafts as well as their how-tos were on display, such as lantern-making, lion and dragon head-making, as well as tea ceremonies.

Visitors also admired elaborate Chinese traditional costumes and altars that were set up to show the preparations and rituals performed during major festivals.

There was even a mock funeral parlour set up for curious onlookers.

The finishing touch: A craftsman attaching tassles to a paper glass lantern.

One of the traditional craftsmen who were showing their trade at the carnival was 70-year-old Tan Khar Mee, who had been making lion and dragon heads for a few decades.

“I was invited to exhibit my work at the carnival and thought it would be a nice idea to let the public see how the props used in lion and dragon dances are made.

“As it is a dying trade, it would be nice if the display ignited an interest in the young people here so that they can learn more about the craft,” he said.

Austrian tourist Peter Schmid, 77, was seen taking pictures and chatting with his wife Lydia as they walked past the various booths.

“As people who are interested in South-East Asian culture, we find the carnival fascinating and informative about Chinese traditions in Malaysia.

“We even tried some of the food here and are buying some sweets to bring back,” he said, adding that they found out about the carnival from their hotel front desk.

State Tourism and Culture committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi commended the organising committee for successfully exposing the public to Chinese culture and tradition.

“Such events are important as the younger generation is increasingly unaware of their own culture.

“It also brings greater understanding of the culture between different races and fosters unity among Malaysians,” she said.

Programme chairman and Perak Chinese Assembly Hall chairman Chai Voi Keong said the committee was proud to organise the event and promote Chinese culture through music, food, dance and other performances.

Expert hands: Nolee Ashilin (seated, right) asking Tan (seated, left) about the art of making lion heads.

“Malaysia is very lucky as it is a unique melting pot of various cultures and races.

“Besides opening the eyes of the younger generation to Chinese culture, we hope to put up an extraordinary show for everyone’s entertainment,” he said.