Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore (Yi Ting)

  CHINGAY - an annual street procession held in Singapore as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

  The first Chingay Parade held in Singapore was on the 4th of February, 1973. It was initially suggested by our late Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew to stage a Chingay parade similar to those held in Penang. His purpose was to create a festive mood for all Singaporeans. This was because the ban of firecrackers in Singapore, due to the deaths and injuries caused by its fatal explosions, since June 1972  had led to the absence of traditional firecrackers, which is a customary New Year practice to drive away evil spirits and also for simply celebrating the Lunar New Year, causing unhappiness and reduced public enthusiasm for the occasion. Thus, with all the noise and gaiety of Chingay, the ban of firecrackers was compensated.

  Today, Chingay has become a uniquely Singaporean Lunar New Year Tradition, held during the first weekend of the Lunar New Year. This annual street extravaganza is now a national festival that
epitomises the dynamism of Singapore's vibrant and multicultural society, and is celebrated by Chinese, Malays, Indian and Eurasians alike.In addition, This national event is the largest street performance and float parade in Asia.

  This year marks the first year towards Singapore's next 50 years and hence, Chingay 2016 is aptly themed,"Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore". Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds will come together to celebrate the core values, which were advocated by the Founding Prime Minister and other Founding Fathers, which also are important to Singapore as we take the first step towards SG100. These five core values include:

1) Racial harmony and social cohesion, including inter-religious harmony;

2) Building a warm and caring community;

3) Having resilience as a nation;

4) Every citizen adopting a can-do Singapore spirit, for example, we should confront, have courage, and get things done;

5) Upholding high moral values, such as integrity, honesty, fair-mindedness, and prudency.
In Chingay 2016, these values will be brought to live. Quoting PA Chief Executive Director Mr Ang Hak Seng, "Chingay 2016 represents the first step towards SG100, as we celebrate the Singapore Spirit and our shared values that have transformed us from a fishing village into a modern metropolis. We celebrate these values that have brought us this far, and will take us into the future with confidence.". 

  Based on my personal observations and understanding of the annual Chingay parade, I feel that the parade's original main focus and purpose, of simply celebrating the Lunar New Year, has been lost over the years. This year's Chingay parade carries the purpose of marking the start of our nation's next 50 years, with the illuminated opening act of  "Voyage SG100". But how and why has the purpose changed since the first Chingay parade in Singapore?

  Firstly, as our nation grows, we gradually learn to understand and include our diverse society of different races and religions which will be included in our range of national events and activities. In this case, Chingay slowly grew from a Chinese-centric parade, to the Chingay as of today, where the floats designed, performers participating and performances included in the parade include people of different age, race, language, religion and creed. This allows multi-cultural Singapore to come together and celebrate as one, whether we are one of the 8000 performers enjoying ourselves as we perform with pride, or one of the 10000 audiences sitting comfortably in our seats as we watch the spectacular show. Also, as our parade grabs global attention and recognition, we also include international acts in our parade, such as the Eurasian Association and the Everlasting Illuminating Passion with Awa Dance with the SJ50 float, both as of Chingay 2016. In addition, for the first time in Chingay's history, the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) has collaborated with 30 religious groups to present an item at Chingay 2016, called "Because We Are Different, We Are One", taking on a special meaning as the racial and religious harmony we enjoy today was forged through trials of fire, something we must never take for granted. This item reinforces the important message of mutual respect and universal brotherhood. Thus, due to Singapore's multi-cultural society and with the Chingay parade being a national event, the team of organizers has to support the idea of an 'inclusive society' by including performances featuring people of all walks of life. Gradually, the participants audience is no longer just the Chinese, but everyone. Therefore, the purpose and main aim of the Chingay parade changes from celebrating Chinese New Year, to themes related to the nation instead, allowing it to be relatable to all national viewers of diverse backgrounds, and to reflect our multi-cultural heritage to foreign viewers.

  Secondly, as the number of people in Singapore who have experienced celebrating Lunar New Year with firecrackers decreases, and as those who have experienced celebrating Lunar New Year with firecrackers gradually learn to accept the ban, people are no longer angry, affected or concerned about the ban of firecrackers in Singapore. Thus, the focus on compensating the absence of firecrackers eventually fades away and the purpose of Chingay focuses mostly on the appropriate national affairs that year, or simply just to reflect our multi-cultural nation. However, some parts of the parade will still suggest the idea of celebrating the Lunar New Year, such as the 'flying dragons' and firecrackers.

  Therefore, I feel that things change as time passes, and we have to adapt to new changes and accept our differences, so the purpose of the Chingay parade changes over the years to appeal to people of all walks of life.

  Whether it is to make up to the absence of firecrackers for the Lunar New Year or to set a mark to our nation's first year to our next 50, I believe that the organizers have successfully fulfilled the respective purposes. However, I can only be certain about the successful purpose fulfillment of this year's parade as it is the only one that I have ever witnessed. Chingay 2016 is themed "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore". The lights used at Chingay 2016 signify the wisdom of out founding fathers leading Singapore towards a brighter future. "Lights of Legacy" is represented by the sky lanterns illustrated by residents pledging their support towards upholding values such as resilience, social harmony and integrity. These sky lanterns were part of the parade finale. Thus, the first half of the theme suggests the continuation of upholding our Founding Fathers' core values and learning from the wisdom of them who have brought Singapore this far. "Brighter Singapore" is represented by the lighted cubes and the opening and finale items of the parade. The cubes are decorated by children and youths, depicting our ideal Singapore in 2065, and are later signed by friends and family members to show their support for the youths' aspirations for the future of Singapore. The opening and finale performances of  "Voyage SG 100" and "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore" respectively, signify that our nation's progress so far can only be sustained if we are a caring community, where no one is left behind, as 800 out of the 3000 performers of these two items are youths. Thus, "Brighter Singapore" suggests that unity improves our nation as our nation progresses.
  Our multi-cultural society is an evidence of our nation's progression, thus people of all walks of life was included in the performance. This society also proves the work and effort made by our Founding Fathers to make our nation an inclusive one, where no one is left out, for the past 50 years of Singapore history. This supports the second half of the theme "Brighter Singapore", where unity is strength, when we come together as One People, One Singapore. This also suggests the marking of our nation's next 50 years as a multi-cultural society is the result of the efforts of our Founding Fathers since 50 years ago. Additionally, as an audience, I could see the bright smiles on the faces of the performers as they presented their stunning performances to us. This shows the joy in our multi-cultural society and success in our Founding Fathers' nation-building efforts. Thus, this also shows that we, the new generation, must continue on the legacy of their wisdom and high values to build a better Singapore, support the theme "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore".

  I have seen many student volunteers involved in the Chingay parade this year. A group of my
friends are involved in as performers and I have seen many teenage students at where we, audiences', were seated at. This adds on to the point of a caring community as not only adults are involved in this major national event. Hence, this also proves the second half of Chingay 2016's theme "Brighter Singapore".

 

The "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore" float at the finale of the parade has left a deep impression on me as it has strongly promoted "Lights of Legacy", displaying the five core values beautifully on the light-bulb-shaped float. This allows us the younger generation to understand these values and start living by them, because honestly, if it wasn't for this year's Chingay parade, I would have never known about the existence of these core values advocated by out Founding Fathers.

  I think that another way they have stressed on the theme is by including the LED light bulb into our
goodie bags. This leads us to having a deep impression on the theme "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore" as we can relate the light bulb to the first half of the theme, which leads us to recalling the whole theme and finally link it to the mark of Singapore's next 50 years.

  Due to the above factors, explanations and personal thoughts, I conclude that the organizers have successfully fulfilled the purpose of setting a mark to our nation's next 50 years with this year's Chingay parade, by linking most of the performances to the theme, which reflects the message of  "Voyage SG 100".

  This year's Chingay parade was the first one for me as an audience and it had left a really deep impression on me. I enjoyed the performa
nces a lot. Chingay parades to come are definitely not to be missed! I am extremely grateful and thankful for this great opportunity to watch the Chingay parade NE show for the first time, especially when it is on the year where we first step foot as a nation to our next 50 years.

  I hereby wish all Singaporeans to carry on the LIGHTS OF LEGACY of our Founding Fathers and to strive and work hard for a BRIGHTER SINGAPORE. VOYAGE SG 100!





(photo credits to all rightful owners of the images)