MalayMail/Bernama-Nov 6
Malaysia and Singapore will jointly nominate the Chingay street parade for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity in March next year. Singapore’s National Heritage Board (NHB) said the joint nomination was decided by both countries, as there are Chingay-practising communities in Singapore, as well as in Malaysia’s Penang and Johor Bahru. “This joint nomination commemorates the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia in 2025, and provides an opportunity for both countries to promote cross-cultural exchanges and collaborations,” NHB said in a statement on Tuesday. Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong, said it is meaningful that the joint nomination be made as part of the celebrations marking the anniversary of bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. According to NHB’s Roots website, Chingay processions in Singapore were initially organized for religious festivals dedicated to Taoist deities. The first modern Chingay Parade in Singapore was held on 4 February 1973, with the participation of around 2,000 performers. Since then, it has evolved into a multicultural event that includes participants from across Singapore, the region, and the world. The event features creative floats and traditional performances from both Chinese and non-Chinese groups. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/06/malaysia-singapore-to-jointly-propose-chingay-for-unesco-cultural-heritage-list-in-2025/155937
