KUCHING: The Siniawan old town was bustling with excitement as the sun rose on the morning of Chap Goh Mei. The annual celebration, which marked the end of the Chinese New Year festivities, was a much-anticipated event for the community, and preparations had been underway for weeks.
It was a lively and colourful event attended by both local residents and visitors from abroad. A large crowd gathered to take part in the celebrations that started as early as 7am and went on till 12 noon.
As the crowd grew, Deputy Premier cum Batu Kawa assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Sim Hui Kian and Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh arrived to a rousing welcome amid the beat of traditional instruments.
Sim, who was there to officially open the celebration, is a beloved figure in the community, known for his passion for preserving cultural heritage and promoting unity.
The morning started with a prayer service led by Sim, who was joined by Kapitan Bong Boon Koh, Kapitan Chiam Kuet Joon, and other prominent community members. They began their journey by paying a visit to the historic Siniawan Swee Guk Temple, which has a rich history dating back to 1886 during the Brooke era and is considered one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Sarawak.
“It’s a wonderful sight to see so many people from all different backgrounds come together to celebrate Chap Goh Mei,” Cina Seberang Sg. Siniawan Kapitan Chiam Kuet Joon told New Sarawak Tribune as he accompanied Sim to the temple.
“I am so glad to see such vibrant culture and traditions being kept alive here in Sarawak.”
Aivy Bong, 38, a mother of two, was one of the many visitors who came to the temple to pray for health and prosperity.
“I’ve been coming to Siniawan every Chap Goh Mei for as long as I can remember,” she said.
“It’s such a special tradition that brings the community together. This temple has a special place in my heart.”
“I came early this morning with my family to the temple to pray and watch the lion dance performances,” said Chang San San, 28.
“I have work starting at 3 pm, so I thought it would be better to come early. This is my first time attending the Chap Goh Mei celebration. I pray for happiness and health. Without a healthy body, there’s not much you can do,” he added.
After praying at the temple, Sim and Miro walked to visit the Guan Yin statue monument stage and pavilions, which is an extension project of the temple currently under construction.
At the open-air kitchen across from the temple, a bustling preparation of vegetarian food was underway to serve nearly 4,000 guests.
“More than 50 volunteers from all over Kuching have worked hard to prepare the food.
All the food is vegetarian and delicious,” said Amy Liu, 39, one of the volunteers.
It’s a long and tiring job, but we are happy to do it,” she said, adding that the preparation process began at 2am, requiring the volunteers to work in shifts due to the long hours involved.
Sim and Miro also took a tour of the kitchen and even tried their hand at cooking.
They proceeded to the Siniawan market to interact with both visitors and local residents and made a visit to the exhibition stage, where they observed 21 lion dance heads on display, all of which were of Hakka origin.
The exhibition was manned by Chai Xun Ru, a 23-year-old girl who has been carrying on the family tradition for many years.
Along the way, Sim took a moment to visit a shop where he greeted a 93-year-old woman named Fam Jap Fah @ Fam Nyet Fah.
He extended his best wishes for her longevity and well-being. According to one of her family members, she is considered to be the oldest resident of the area.
Of course, the highlight of the celebration was the lion dance procession. At approximately 10.30am, the lion dance troupes were prepared to perform. There were a total of six troupes, each with its own vibrant colours, all hailing from the Buddhist temples in Bau.
It was said that each troupe represented a different deity. The procession was accompanied by loud drumming, prayer, and firecrackers.
The atmosphere was truly electric as the streets were filled with thousands of visitors eagerly watching the lion dance procession.
The procession first made its way to the offering table, which was adorned with fruits and snacks waiting to be blessed by the deities. The loud sound of firecrackers welcomed the procession and prayers could be heard coming from the mobile speakers.
Sim and Miro, along with the community leaders, stood at the offering table while Cheng Nyong Choi, 74, from the Swee Guk Buddhist temple led a prayer, asking for blessings and prosperity for the area and its people.
When the prayer ended, the visitors were free to take fruits and snacks off the table.
As Koni Juna, a Bidayuh from Kampung Kopit, said: “I took the pineapple and orange as a sign of good luck and prosperity.”
As the lion dance procession continued throughout the market, Mohd Azinuddin, a 17-year-old roti canai vendor, exclaimed his excitement over the parade, stating “I never tire of watching it.”
He has been selling roti canai in the Siniawan market for a year and enjoys seeing people of different religions and races come together to celebrate Chap Goh Mei.
Terry Pugh, a 40-year-old man from England who was visiting Siniawan market with his Sarawakian wife and son, commented that he had never experienced a celebration as grand as Chap Goh Mei before, stating that celebrations in England were much smaller in scale.
He expressed his happiness at seeing the large crowd and expressed his intention to return next year.
Despite the physically demanding lion dance performances, dancers such as the young Bidayuh Jason, 24, were full of passion and energy for the Chap Goh Mei celebration.
Unfortunately, Jason had to take a break due to exhaustion and came close to fainting. Despite this, he said: “I’ve been doing this since the first day of Chinese New Year. I just need a rest before rejoining my team.”
