S'pore and Malaysia to nominate Chingay parade for Unesco list

Nomination will commemorate 60th anniversary of bilateral relations

- Ng Keng Gene

Singapore and Malaysia will be jointly nominating the Chingay parade to be inscribed on Unesco's intangible cultural heritage list.

The National Heritage Board (NHB) said on Nov 5 that the nomination was jointly decided by both countries, which have Chingay-practising communities in Singapore, Johor Bahru and Penang.

"Chingay reflects the shared heritage of both countries, celebrates our connected cultures, and continues to be actively practised in both countries today," said NHB.

It added that the nomination, set to be submitted in March 2025, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia.

NHB and the People's Association (PA) will be working with Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Department of National Heritage.

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.

Chingay, which takes place in Singapore as an annual street parade in celebration of Chinese New Year, has its roots in religious festivals devoted to Taoist deities such as Tua Pek Kong and Mazu.

According to NHB's heritage resource portal Roots.gov.sg, it is believed that these festivals and processions were brought to Penang, and subsequently Singapore, by migrants from southern China in the early 1800s.

The portal adds that Chingay is derived from the Chinese word zhuangyi, which means "the art of costume and masquerade" in Hokkien.

The modern Chingay parade in Singapore – a multicultural affair organised by PA – was first held in 1973.