George Town, April 6 – In the past, the Chingay Parade in Penang would attract massive crowds with throngs of spectators lining the streets, eagerly stretching their necks to witness the incredible stunts performed by the artists who effortlessly balanced and passed 10-metre-long poles adorned with flags between them.
The Penang Chingay Parade, which wound its way through the streets of George Town, beginning at Padang Brown in Datuk Keramat and concluding at the Esplanade, frequently attracted both residents and tourists due to more than just its acrobatic displays featuring large flags. The parade also showcased stilt walkers, unicycle riders, lion dances, and dragon dances. silamban , silat and boria .
In recent times, however, enthusiasm for the parade has diminished, with mainly tourists and barely any locals turning up as viewers. This downturn has led to a reduction in sponsorships for the Chingay participants as well.
Kayden Ang, who chairs Persatuan Chingay Malaysia Utara, mentioned that previously, the funding for the event came from private firms, temples, and organizations. Their logos and names were incorporated into large banners through embroidery.
He mentioned, “Currently, attracting sponsors has become difficult as not many individuals show interest in Chingay.”
The expenses involved in constructing the large banners, which consist of lengthy bamboo stalks and chiffon fabric, might amount to several hundred ringgits solely for the poles. This is because they needed to obtain perfectly straight bamboo stalks with precise measurements and dimensions.
“He mentioned that even the fabric comes with a hefty price tag since we use chiffon for its lightness, which might run into a few thousand dollars.”
He mentioned that in recent times, the association’s expenditures have been covered by both its members and several private enterprises.
"We undertake these efforts due to our enthusiasm for the game," he stated.
Apart from the expenses involved, he mentioned that most of the current participants are blue-collar employees who can’t afford to miss work for training sessions. Although there are younger members joining, few stay actively engaged for extended periods.
The society boasts around 300 members; however, merely 80 of them actively participate and contribute their skills.
From that group, merely around 40 can execute acrobatic maneuvers with the large banners, and very few among them are youngsters.
"They mentioned that many of the acrobatic performers are over 40 years old, with hardly anyone under 30," he stated.
He mentioned that the organization includes young participants as early as eight or nine years old; however, these children will initially master handling small banners. Eventually, though, they tend to cease their involvement altogether.
"This is precisely why we believe that this collaborative nomination to UNESCO for Chingay holds significant importance," he stated, pointing towards the effort aimed at getting Chingay listed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
He mentioned it might generate greater local engagement and potentially encourage more kids to take an interest in the sport.
As per Chingay coach Lee Kok Keong, mastering the acrobatic aspect of the sport requires genuine interest and enthusiasm from individuals.
He mentioned that training is rigorous and frequently leads to injuries, including cracked teeth, as they learn to grasp the bamboo poles using only their mouths.
He mentioned that one of the most effective methods to generate awareness and enthusiasm is by incorporating the sport into school curriculums.
"It’s an excellent activity for enhancing balance, strength, and agility," Lee mentioned.
In the meantime, Andrew Lai, the secretary of the Penang Chingay Association, voiced similar concerns as Ang, noting that fewer youngsters are showing interest in learning about Chingay.
He mentioned that parents are more overprotective towards their kids due to safety worries, and apart from that, they fail to recognize the advantages of having them learn Chingay.
Lai mentioned that wushu and lion dance are more popular compared to Chingay due to their status as recognized sports with many competitions available.
“Therefore, we anticipate that this Unesco bid will elevate Chingay as a cultural event and generate greater enthusiasm for the activity,” he stated.
He mentioned that one of the suggestions put forward for the nomination was to establish standardized regulations for Chingay competitions since presently, there are no specific guidelines or scoring systems in place.
"This will establish a benchmark for Chingay, and as a result, more events can be organized. With these events, additional individuals will likely want to participate and learn about it," he stated.
Ang further mentioned that it’s essential to have standardized competition regulations for Chingay to avoid biased scoring and, concurrently, develop an internationally competitive event where other nations can join in.
"Once we secure the Unesco listing, I am confident it will lead to greater economic advantages for Penang and also highlight Chingay," Lai stated.
Associations from Penang and Johor Bahru are collaborating with Singapore on a shared Unesco application for Chingay.
Lai mentioned that they have participated in workshops and meetings alongside representatives from Johor Baru and Singapore to deliberate on the collective nomination. This included choosing which videos and photographs should be submitted to UNESCO for consideration.
Upon being reached for comment, George Town World Heritage Incorporated General Manager Ang Ming Chee stated that although the Chingay parades in Penang, Johor Bahru, and Singapore each possess distinct features, they all share a single defining characteristic: these processions serve as a celebration of the community.
"In Penang, it has transformed into a multiculturally rich parade featuring performances like silamban, silat and boria While in Johor, this event celebrates the five deities and highlights the significant dedication to volunteering within the local community," she stated.
In contrast, Singapore’s Chingay celebration is nearly like a carnival, featuring international components incorporated into the event.
"As Chingay events in various locations celebrate the local identity, they also unite individuals from all backgrounds in a single festivity," she stated.
She mentioned that this is a cultural occasion which has transformed over time to embrace diversity and foster better ethnic relations within society.
By the end of March, both Malaysia and Singapore will jointly nominate Chingay for inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.