All aglow in Chinatown
SINGAPORE is moving ahead with tradition by celebrating its Chinatown Mid-autumn Festival in a hybrid format for the second time this year.
The event – aptly themed Celebration Of Tradition – will feature a series of online activities, such as mooncake making and a special virtual tour.
“The Mid-autumn Festival is about celebrating what truly matters – family. Traditionally, it is a time of reunion and we hope our online programmes will bring families and like-minded residents together amid the pandemic to celebrate, bond over common interests and fun activities, and share the rich culture and traditions of the festival,” said Vincent Tan, the festival committee’s chairman.
The event is organised by the Chinatown Festival Committee and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
STB director (arts and cultural precincts) Lim Shoo Ling said the hybrid format provides innovative ways for people to connect and learn about the culture and traditions of the Chinese festival.
A notable highlight is the integration of a virtual tour into the event, in addition to other online activities.
On the 360 Virtual Tour and Heritage Trail, audiences can enjoy this year’s street light-up of the historic Chinatown precinct. Viewers can virtually tour the streets of Chinatown that will be lined with 900 beautiful lanterns that span 880m.
Look out for sculptured lanterns of characters synonymous to the Mid-autumn Festival such as the jade rabbit, mooncakes, pomelos, and the full moon.
The star attraction of this year’s display is a towering 12m-tall Chang-e centrepiece. The centrepiece depicts the classic scene of the moon goddess ascending to the moon.
The Chinese believe that a round, bright and full moon symbolises completeness and is regarded as a symbol of reunion.
Other virtual activities to look out for are the online mooncake workshop and lantern riddle video series.
The streets of Singapore’s Chinatown will be lit up with lanterns until Oct 5.
For more information, visit chinatownfestivals.sg.