Road to Unesco

For Chingay 2025, Mr Arthur Ong dressed up as an ang ku kueh. In his nine years as a Chingay performer, the 40-year-old technical support executive has also danced with lotus flowers and helped to choreograph dances.

- Chin Soo Fang

"One of my fond childhood memories was watching the Chingay performers give out candies and toys along Orchard Road in the 80s, perched on my dad's shoulders," said Mr Ong, who has been part of the Singapore Buddhist Federation's Chingay contingent for several years. "I decided then that I wanted to be a performer one day."

As Singapore and Malaysia prepare to nominate the street parade for Unesco's intangible cultural heritage list in March, the People's Association (PA) is hoping to spark a similar interest among children today.

Its efforts include exhibitions in schools, a storybook for preschoolers and even a Minecraft competition to design digital Chingay floats.

"Chingay is more than just a parade; it is a form of living heritage that continues to thrive, even after more than five decades," said Ms Tan Swee Leng, vice-chairwoman for Chingay 2025.

The joint nomination for Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will be Singapore's third submission to the list, following the successful inscription of hawker culture in December 2020, and the kebaya in December 2024.

Intangible cultural heritage refers to traditions or living expressions that are inherited and passed on between generations, such as performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events.

The joint nomination is part of Singapore's diamond jubilee celebrations in 2025, and also commemorates the 60th anniversary of ties between Singapore and Malaysia.

"It's about time," said Mr Ong, whose 63-year-old mother Tan Bee Lian - dressed as a kueh tutu - performed in the 2025 parade with him.

"It's in our heritage and blood... It shows the rich multicultural flavours of Singapore and Malaysia, so I'm sure we will succeed."