The Enlightening Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival

By Massita Ahmad Massita Ahmad, Bernama's correspondent in Singapore shares her take across the Causeway. SINGAPORE, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- While Singaporeans get ready to celebrate the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, an annual affair not to be missed, I'm slowly learning of the traditional folklore of Chang'e and Hou Yi associated with the festival. Lanterns, processions and mooncakes are the main items of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eight month in the lunar calendar, that is on Sept 15 based on the Gregorian calendar. Though I have heard of the celebration and have seen the lanterns and the mooncakes back home in Malaysia, I was never initiated to get to know more of the festival. However, here it is different. The month-long celebration until Sept 30, inspired me to learn more about the meaning and heritage behind the Mid-Autumn Festival through the line-up of special programmes and activities. To many Chinese, it is still the second most important festival after the Chinese New Year. The Mid-Autumn Festival is about celebrating with the family, lantern processions and mooncakes. The one thing that really grabbed my attention is the display of the lanterns. The Singapore Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival this year has returned with an impressive lantern display that brings to life the traditional folklore of Chang'e and Hou Yi. For the very first time the streets of Singapore Chinatown will be lit up with LED light lanterns, thanks to the organiser, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee (KA-KS CCC) that opted for the more environmentally-friendly LED light. About 900 lanterns have been fitted with LED lights, which will help to reduce the total amount of electricity used by up to 70 percent. The LED lights, which also shine brighter, will enhance the overall visual effect of the street decorations for the annual festival. This year's theme is "A Sparkling Mid-Autumn Festival @ Chinatown". The handcrafted lanterns are already painting the skies in a myriad of colours in the highly-anticipated 'Street Light-Up'. Inspired by the traditional Mid-Autumn folklore, the various lantern displays depict scenes of Hou Yi shooting down the nine suns but one, Chang'e ascending to the moon and the Jade Rabbit pounding the elixir of life using a pestle as it accompanies Chang'e at the Moon Palace. The brighter LED lights also enhance the overall visual effects, dazzling onlookers. Stretching from Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road to South Bridge Road, this year's 'Street Light-Up' includes a 12-metre tall Chang'e sculptured lantern as the centerpiece. It was conceptualised and designed in collaboration with eight Year Two students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). Working with expert lantern craftsmen from China, the partnership is one of the ways KA-KS CCC engages the youth in its cultural festivals. The pre-opening ceremony was held on Aug 28, 2016. According to an Adviser to Jalan Besar GRC GRO (KA–KS), Dr Lily Neo the Chinatown Festivals play an important role in keeping the cultural traditions and heritage of Chinese festivals alive. "This year places emphasis on rediscovering the origins and history of the Mid-Autumn Festival by retelling the traditional story behind the occasion, which today's generation, especially the younger audience, may have forgotten or lost touch with. "From the Street Light-Up to various activities, we are delighted to be able to use this platform to meaningfully engage Singaporeans and tourists alike in the festivities and nurture an appreciation of Chinese cultural heritage," Dr Neo said. Even I cannot wait to experience the Mass Lantern Walk on Sept 11 as the streets of Chinatown will be further lit up by lanterns of all shapes and sizes as an expected 3,000 participants take part in this annual activity. Besides the lantern display decorating the streets of Chinatown, I admired the creative artworks of 430 children and students who took part in the Lantern Painting Competition. These beautiful lanterns are on display at Pagoda Street from Sept 3 to Sept 15, 2016 and I will definitely drop by to view them. "We are pleased that the Mid-Autumn Festival has been delighting Singaporeans and visitors alike in the past 17 years," said Director, Cultural Precincts Development, Singapore Tourism Board, Kenneth Lim. "It brings to life the fascinating heritage and character of Chinatown with lanterns and festivities," he said. I could not agree more with Mr Lim. I want to see the festival brought to life in Malaysia as well. -- BERNAMA