KUCHING: The City of Unity was flooded with people on Saturday (Dec 3) night as Kuching city hosted its annual Christmas parade, which was put on hold for two years due to COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 5,000 Christians of various denominations came together to participate in the parade which started from 7pm until around 9.30pm.
Themed “God’s Love”, the parade was organised by the Association of Churches in Sarawak and Sarawak Ecumenical Christian Association (SECA), with Chin Fu Methodist Church (SCAC) being the host for this year’s parade.
Despite the downpour, congregants brave the rain to join in the 4km parade which started from the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Jubilee Ground to Jalan Padungan, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahim (Waterfront), to Lebuh Temple (Harbour View Hotel), Lebuh Wayang (Medan Pelita), Jalan Tabuan (Borneo Hotel), Jalan Ban Hock (Grand Continental Hotel/MBKS flats) and back to the MBKS Jubilee Ground.
The event included colourful and beautifully decorated floats from the local churches. Congregants were also in high spirits as they were seen singing Christmas songs during the parade.
Joining in the parade, among others, was also the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching, Most Rev Simon Poh.
ACS secretary-general Ambrose Linang told New Sarawak Tribune that he was glad to see that the parade was successfully held and most importantly it was carried out in a peaceful manner.
“The participants from churches were more than 5,000. If it is not because of rain, I think it would be about 10,000 people taking part based on the previous years before COVID-19,” he said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Christmas parade was unable to be held in 2020 and 2021. The last one was held in 2019.
