The theme for Chingay 2016 "lights of legacy, brighter Singapore" as shown in the picture above, suggests that Chingay 2016 will be the brightest over the last 43 years history of Chingay parades and with the biggest full-scale illuminated show. Chingay 2016 represents our first step towards SG100 after our 50 years milestone. Our nation progress with the 5 core values fostered by our founding fathers and exhibited by our pioneer generation which are Racial Harmony and Social Cohesion, Caring Community, Resilience as a Nation, Can-Do Singapore Spirit and Uphold high moral values. I think that the purpose of Chingay 2016 is to celebrate as one nation the core values that have brought us from a Malay fishing village to a prosperous and modern Singapore we are living in now and create a brighter future for Singapore and to bring different races, religions and people of all walks of life together.
The first Chingay parade was started as a compensation for the ban on firecrackers which is a Chinese New Year practice to drive away evil spirits with its noise and it involves only the Chinese performing to welcome the new year. However, the Chingay parade now involves people of different ethnics and religions to celebrate the diverse culture and a cohesive and harmonious society that we are living in. The racial harmony we have today cannot be taken as granted as at our 4th year after independence, 2 racial riots happened and the Chingay parade is a good time to remind ourselves that the harmony is hard to come so we should cherish it.
These changes were made to let everybody living in Singapore feel accepted and that Chingay is also a unique platform in which all religions and races can come together to show other countries our spirit of racial harmony and our multicultural society. Also, performers from overseas travel to Singapore to celebrate and take part in Chingay to usher in the Chinese New Year which not only the Chinese can celebrate but everybody regardless of race, religion and language. This too can strengthen the bonds between Singapore and our overseas friends. With vibrant floats, and performers of different races in their traditional costumes and many more performances, this yearly street parade has truly becomes a uniquely Singaporean tradition.
I think that the organisers have successfully fulfilled the purpose as Chingay 2016 is the first year to introduce a joint performance by 30 religious organisations and groups. This will give Singaporeans a sense of pride that Singapore is a nation that has inter-racial and inter-religious harmony. Also, from the item shown above "Because We Are Different, We Are One", it is a reminder that the racial and religious harmony that Singaporeans enjoy today was forged through trials of fire and to reiterate something that we should not take for granted. The organisers have effectively brought together 30 religious organisations and groups and that people with different races and religions come together as one family to perform and forge friendship and care. Thus, the core values of Racial Harmony and Social Cohesion and Caring Community have been shown. Representing 'Lights of legacy', the organisers had Singaporeans from all walks of life to customise 7500 sky lanterns with their wishes and hopes for Singapore's future. Representing 'Brighter Singapore', the organisers too had children and youths to show their ideal Singapore in SG100 as they pledged to ensure a brighter Singapore.
As we walk the journey towards SG100, without forgetting the 5 core values fostered by our founding fathers and pioneers by taking them into our hearts and instilling them into us to create a brighter Singapore and become a more united and caring nation as ever.
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