Street comes alive in Malacca

Tuesday, 24 January 2012 10:06

MALACCA: The Chinese New Year atmosphere was in the air at Jalan Hang Kasturi when more than a thousand tourists and locals alike crowded the narrow street for the launching of its festive lighting ceremony recently.

Although the night was dented with a light evening drizzle, the crowd was unperturbed.

A series of traditional and contemporary performances were lined up, back to back, along the street fondly known as ‘Tofu Street’ an old street adjacent to the popular Jonker Walk.

Greeted by a lion dance, the crowd applauded when the lions laid out sticks of sugarcane and mandarin oranges in the shape of a crab to signify prosperity, success and status.

The subsequent Chinese opera show, puppet show, Chinese instrument suo na and singing performance including the creative percussion group show and impromptu drum performance made the crowd cheer for more throughout the night.

Special booths were also set up to demonstrate flower arrangements and the art of paper cutting. There were also booths that offered lip-smacking local delicacies.

Organised by Jalan Hang Kasturi’s cultural committee and Malacca Fui Chew Association, the celebration was aimed at livening up the Chinese New Year mood in the older quarter of the city while showcasing the Malaccan culture and hospitality.

To usher in the Year of the Dragon, the committee also creatively joined and raised over a hundred lanterns with two red and green dragon heads on both walls of the street.

A huge painting of ‘The Auspicious Dragon’ by local artist Quake Kah Ann was also displayed during the celebration, with members of the public later invited to complete it with their fingerprints as the mythical creature’s shiny scales.

British tourist J. Middleton, 38, was amazed that the festivity was celebrated grandly by all in Malaysia and loved it dearly as he was strolling around the streets with his wife, Catherine.

‘’The lightings and decorations are colourful and attractive.

‘’I have snapped many night scenery pictures, especially on the combination of lanterns that look like two dragons flying above the street,’’ he said, adding he decided to extend his stay in Malacca to celebrate Chinese New Year.

From The Star