BY NURFARAHIN OKI
KUCHING: The Seng Ong Kong Deity Procession at the Hong Sang Si Temple near Wayang Street here drew large crowds on Sunday, marking the event as the city’s largest annual cultural celebration.
With 202 contingents and over 20,000 participants, the procession showcased a vibrant tapestry of cultural diversity, attracting locals and tourists alike.
New Sarawak Tribune managed to interview members of the public about the procession.
EMILY, 32
Australian
This is our first time watching this procession, and it’s amazing. Everyone is very passionate, making it exciting to witness. Plus, they are having a bit of fun for a very good reason.
PRUE, 33,
Australian
It’s very colourful and bright, and everyone is smiling. In Melbourne, they do have a Chinese New Year festival, but it’s a bit different. This procession is bigger, much more fun and the parade was very long.
KEILEY PRESTON, 18
Australian
We saw on the news that this event was happening and noted that the road closure was in effect. So, we stepped outside our hotel, and there was a parade going on. I’ve experienced a similar procession in Indonesia on Lembongan Island, Bali. For me, this procession is very interesting because we get to see everyone from different dancing clubs and we really like it.
CARMEN, 41,
German
I don’t really know much about this because I’ve only been here for a few days, so it’s a surprise for me. I’ve seen something like this in Singapore, and it’s interesting. We have something similar in Germany, where we call it a carnival. However, this procession is unique to me because it represents a special tradition. It’s a little loud, but that’s normal, just like in Germany where they use drums. We do that as well.
MOHD NUR FITRY, 22,
Sales assistant
This kind of parade has happened a few times here, but this year it seems to be livelier. It’s fun to watch the cultures of other races, and I think I’ve never experienced this anywhere else. This is the first time I’ve seen this procession because I didn’t have the chance to see it last year.
