Johor Bahru Chingay 柔佛新山游神

Chinese New Year is over for most of the chinese in the world normally Chinise celebrate their CNY untill Lunar 15 of the first month which falls on 17th of Febuary.

But this is not happening in Johor Bahru. Johor Bahru Chinese Celebrating their chinese new year until 23rd of febuary (Lunar 21st of first month). Reason is due to Chingay of Johor Bahru is celebrate on this day.

Every Year we are celebrating the one of the Johor's biggest Chinese Culture event here by taking Deities on a parade. This parade is firstly organized by Old Johor Temple with more than 100yrs history. this one of the biggest Chinese culture event in the world. it is not hold by government. this is event is proudly hold by the chinese community in Johor. Last year 2009, this event has attracted 100 thousands of people including others states and others culture and religion people.

Johor Old Temple is located in Jalan Trus, Poskod 8000, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.

Inside the temple there is also a history room for you to travel back the time with the temple history.

inside the temple there is 5 Deities that are separately worshiped by different clan.

1. Zhao Da Yuan Shuai - escort Hainan Association
2. Hua Guang Da Di - Escort by Guang Zhao Association
3. Gan Tian Da Di - Escort by Hakka Association
4. Hong Xian Da Di - Escort by Hokkien Association
5. and Lastly Yuan Tian Shang Di (aka Da Lao Ye) - Escort by Teo Chew Association.

This has also shown that their culture of accepting every other clan together to celebrate this very huge event. and call this as the 5 clan Spirit

The Parade will start on the morning of 21st Lunar by escorting deities from the Temple to Tiong Hwa Cemetry to get ready for the evening parade.

evening parade which is the most important and entertaining part of the parade start from 6 pm from Tiong Hwa Cemetry until 1 am to reach back the same place.

on 2nd day, 22nd Lunar morning deities will be escort back to the temple.

Thus if you are coming to join this event, you could just come for the evening parade. starting from 6 pm. by this time it will be a lot more comfortable to watch as it is not as hot as evening.

If you wanna go back early i would recommend you to station at Jalan Ngee Heng as that is the starting point for the parade.

if you want a spot that is not so humid. i would recommend you station at OCBC and POS Besar Street as it is along the sea side which will bring sea breeze to you. Cool :)

I would say the best spot is on City Square or Jalan Wong Ah Fook, due to the broad space there. every year every team will display their skill and entertainment at that area which provide you the best entertainment spot.

before you go for the parade there is a Chinese Video Clip link below for you to have more understanding with this event. by understanding more you will definitely enjoy the show even more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nQo_CLap9c

by here i would like to wish all the Chinese people a Happy Chingay and also every body who looking at this blog, Heng ah!