SIBU: Chairman of Sibu Teochew Association Penghulu Chua Hiong Kee is worried that indifferent attitude to the celebration of Chinese New Year might cause the loss of its cultural significance.
Speaking at an open-air Teochew Cultural Concert at Sibu Gateway on Saturday, he said some people regarded it as wasteful celebration while others a merry-making event.
Worst were those who brought their families out of town to get away from the festivity meant to promote family unity and community harmony.
“The celebration is a heritage; it tells about the progress of a people and the art of living.”
He said the festival taught about relationship in family and among friends, and the heart of it was harmony.
“We have the duty not only to preserve it, but hand it down to our children.”
Chua said it also taught about challenges.
“As we look forward to a new year, we discard the evil elements of the past to set out on a new life.”
He said the festive celebration in Malaysia was about sharing with people from various racial backgrounds.
“From this common footing, Malaysians set out to achieve together; it is in this that the spirit of 1Malaysia was formulated as a vision for the nation’s progress.”
In the cultural performance on Saturday night, clan members played Teochew traditional percussion music and sang songs in their dialect.
The highlight was the dancing of eight lions and a dragon to bring luck and prosperity.
The legendary Eight Immortals and gods of fortune also made their appearances.