Chingay bring back memories from home as China student prepares for the parade

Birds of the same feather flock together: Xie Zhaoqing (first from the left) poses with roommate, Zhang Xinye (second from left) and their friends for a picture before dance practice at Lee Wee Nam Library on NTU’s campus.

The rainy weather and the loud chattering under the makeup tent did not fazed Mr Feng Shihao,18, as he tested the LED lights on his costume before practicing the dance steps to the cheery Malay folk song, Rasa Sayang with his friends.

On any other Saturday, Mr Feng would be in his dormitory mugging away or having a meal around campus with his friends. He shares with us, “Saturdays are mostly uneventful, I usually spend time talking to my mother, who is in China, on Skype.”

Mr Feng, a first year student in Electrical and Electronic Engineering is among the 80 student performers from National Technological University (NTU) who signed up for the Chingay parade this year in order to complete a required amount of community hours in order to continue staying at NTU’s dormitories.

Chingay originated in China as a procession to celebrate the birthdays of deities as part of the Chinese New Year festivals. Chingay in Singapore was reinstated after a short halt in 2012 by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in hopes that the music and light-hearted joy could make up for the absence of firecrackers since its ban in 1972.

NTU will be performing alongside other performers from different associations to celebrate Chingay’s 45th anniversary that will be held at the F1 Pit Building on the 10th and 11th of February.

With this year being the first year NTU participates as an independent contingent, organising committee member, Koh Yong Yiang, 21 shares with us, “Initially, the student performers came to practice with a sullen look but after a while each of them motivate one another and push through every single trainings together.”

When asked how does Chingay remind him of his hometown in China, Mr Zhang exclaim; “I have seen this a lot (on) TV during National Day or Moon Festival. By performing in Chingay, I get to experience how the people on TV felt. It was nice!”

His roommate and coursemate, Mr Xie Zhaoqing, who is also from China, expresses his delight with the costume and props for their performance, reminiscing his days when he was in high school back in China.

“Back in high school, I used to create my own costumes during Sports day and go around the school with my classmates and chant our class slogan.” Mr Xie laugh.

Mr Zhang laughed along and added that he would always feel a sense of joy and a carefree spirit whenever Sports day came along and this time, he feels the same feeling and his heart swells with pride as he represents NTU.

“It feels really nostalgic whenever i do my performance in Chingay,” he chuckled, “I feel really happy when I see the audience singing along to Rasa Sayang with me.”