By Massita Ahmad
(This is a three-part series regarding the festivities and preparations on the run-up to the Chinese New Year celebration during this weekend in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. The series focusing on Malaysia's three immediate neighbours starts with Singapore)
SINGAPORE, Feb 8 (Bernama) – “Wishing all an early happy and prosperous Lunar New Year!”.
This was Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's greeting on his official Facebook page, two weeks before the Year of the Dragon.
Updating the page after spending his morning giving out hongbaos and goodie bags to elderly residents at the Teck Ghee Community Club, Lee said the joy and excitement were palpable in the community.
Lee was born in the Year of the Dragon and his birth date of Feb 10 happens to fall on the first day of the Chinese New Year this year.
Bernama has observed huge dragon lanterns and features displayed at a few iconic places in Singapore as early as mid-January.
Lee himself launched the annual Chinese New Year celebrations at the official street light-up and opening ceremony held at the Kreta Ayer Square on Jan 19.
Themed “Soaring Into The Auspicious Dragon Year”, locals and tourists can enjoy colourful lights along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street.
The enchanting street decorations are displayed from Jan 19 to March 9, 2024.
According to the Chinatown Festival Committee, the annual Chinese New Year Celebration is returning to the dazzling streets of Chinatown from Jan 11 to March 11, 2024.
The celebrations aim to highlight Singapore's multiculturalism and diversity, kindle an appreciation for Chinese heritage and tradition, while bringing residents and foreign visitors together as one community, it said.
It is set against the vibrant backdrop of Chinatown – a district of cultural and historical significance.
Apart from the annual official street light-up and opening ceremony, the 2024 celebrations showcase a lineup of engaging activities, such as Festive Fairs, Weekend Stage Shows, the Chinese New Year Countdown Party, and the return of the Lion Dance Competition.
Marking the start of the Chinese New Year, the annual Countdown Party will be held at the Kreta Ayer Square on Chinese New Year’s eve on Feb 9, 2024.
As the clock strikes midnight, Chinatown visitors and those tuning into the Countdown Party broadcast can anticipate an exhilarating showcase of fireworks, featuring a diverse assortment of comets, mines and fountains, said the committee.
Meanwhile, at the other iconic corner of the republic, a spectacular waterfront drone light show will take flight at the Marina Bay precinct.
Titled “The Legend of the Dragon Gate”, the show presents the story of the mythical Dragon King, brought to life through 1,500 drones set against the iconic Singapore skyline.
Visitors can usher in the Year of the Dragon with a 10-minute drone performance, which runs from 8pm on six selected days, including on Feb 10 and 11.
This is one of the lifestyle and entertainment programmes organised by the Singapore Tourism Board, Marina Bay Sands and UOB to enliven the Marina Bay precinct for locals and tourists.
Besides the drone light show, The Dragon Awakens: 2024 Light-Up was held on Feb 6, revealing two majestic 40-metre-long dragons in front of a 15-metre-tall Dragon’s Gate.
It was held at the centre of The Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands.
Surrounded by 88 koi fish ornaments, a dragon’s pearl, and 28 lotus lanterns, the decorations illustrated The Legend of the Dragon Gate.
Meanwhile, sharing his preparations for the new year with Bernama, a Grab driver known as Mr Leow said he will celebrate moderately with his small family.
“My only daughter is now 24. Grown up already. The last days towards the new year are the time for her to help her mother clean the house and put up some decorations,” he said.
Mr Leow is looking forward to the reunion dinner, a tradition where families come together to celebrate the new year.
He also has plans to stop accepting passengers two days before New Year's eve.
“As you can see, the streets are already lacking cars... traffic is smooth… most Singaporeans are now probably at home or overseas... they are taking long leaves,” he said.
With the upcoming Lunar New Year, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is expecting very heavy traffic at both the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints from Feb 8 to 13, 2024.
The ICA, on its website, said more travellers used the checkpoints over the long weekends in January 2024.
In the recent weekend of Jan 26 to 28, there was continuous heavy traffic at the checkpoints, with more than 1.37 million crossings (close to 458,000 crossings) daily.
“This was an increase of close to 14 per cent in daily average crossings when compared to the New Year’s long weekend period (402,000 crossings daily),” it said.
Danny Lim, a Malaysian worker, who hails from Bahau, Negri Sembilan, said he has to plan properly before taking leave to avoid traffic jams at the checkpoints.
“Not only traffic, it is also to avoid the rising bus ticket prices. I had to book early. On normal days, it would cost S$20 from Beach Road here to Terminal 1 in Seremban. During festivities like this, it could reach S$60 per trip,” he said.
BERNAMA wishes all those celebrating happiness, good health, longevity and a smooth-sailing year ahead, and birthday greetings in advance to Prime Minister Lee!
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
