8,000 lanterns to light up the sky at Chingay 2016

This year’s parade will feature sky lanterns, a 66-metre “flying” LED dragon, aerial performances and the biggest full-scale illuminated show ever performed in Chingay.
Shivaanan Selvasevaran Channel NewsAsia 7 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE: This year’s Chingay is set to be one of the brightest, with more than 8,000 lanterns shaped like light-bulbs illuminating the sky during the parade, the People’s Association (PA) revealed on Thursday (Jan 7).

The sky lanterns symbolise the core values of Singaporeans being passed down to the next generation, PA said, adding that the parade will also feature a 66-metre (m) “flying” LED dragon, aerial performances from a 50m-tall crane and the biggest full-scale illuminated show ever performed in Chingay.



These sky lanterns will be launched during the Chingay parade. (Photo: Shivaanan Selvasevaran)

With the theme “Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore”, the parade will feature 50 contingents with troupes from 10 countries. For the first time, there will be a joint performance by more than 30 religious organisations led by the Inter-Religious Organisations Singapore (IRO).

An estimated 160,000 spectators are expected at the parade, which will be held at the F1 Pit Building from Feb 19 to 20. Chingay Night Fiesta will run at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park on Feb 21.

"We chose the theme 'Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore' to remember the values that were fostered by our pioneers," said Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Director of PA.

A commemorative book titled Chingay 2015 – An SG50 Gift from the People to the Nation was also launched on Thursday. The 150-page book explores how Singaporeans celebrated SG50 through Chingay and captures the memories of the performers and organisers behind the parade last year.

- CNA/cy

Chingay Parade 2016 to highlight values fostered by founding fathers
STACEY LIM Today Online 7 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE — Core values fostered by our founding fathers will be brought to light at the 44th Chingay Parade, to be held on Feb 19 and 20 at the F1 Pit Building in the Marina Bay area.

At the first media conference today (Jan 7) for the annual Chinese New Year event, organisers said that the theme “Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore” was chosen because it marks the “beginning of our new chapter to SG100”.

The opening segment of the parade, titled “Voyage SG100”, will show an all-inclusive contingent of 800 youth performers atop a majestic float, symbolising a youth-led nation for the next 50 years towards Singapore’s 100 years of independence.

People’s Association, the parade organisers, will be collecting drawn sky lanterns signed by Singaporeans — expressing values such as racial harmony, social cohesion, integrity, prudence and a can-do Singapore spirit — and will be displaying 8,000 of them as the highlight of the parade’s grand finale.

Children and youth in primary and secondary schools will be encouraged to draw, on cubes provided by organisers, their dream homeland of Singapore in 2065. Mr Ang Hak Seng, chief executive director of People’s Association, said: “Only when we live our values as one people, will we have a brighter Singapore. (A) brighter Singapore is about confidence in our future, so what best way to capture (that) by asking the youth.”

To allow audiences to be part of the lights and sounds, the 25,000 people at the spectators’ stands for each night will be given hand-held light bulbs.

The parade opening and finale will be specially choreographed and is the biggest ever full-scale illuminated show in the Chingay history, with 8,000 performers this year and a total of 50 parade contingents: 40 contingents from Singapore and performance troupes from 10 countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia.

This year’s Chingay will be the first to introduce a joint performance by 30 religious organisations and groups. Deacon Matthew Kang, chairman of New Creation Church, said: “We hope that this will further evoke the sense of pride among our people, among Singaporeans, that indeed Singapore is a nation (that has) inter-racial and inter-religious harmony — and we are really, really proud of that.”

Classic Chinese New Year symbols will still be there, highlighted this year by the world debut of a 66m LED-lighted flying dragon, made from Shaanxi, China for the parade.

Tickets for the parade are available at SISTIC from S$28.50.

Chingay lanterns will not be released into the sky: PA
The People’s Association confirmed on Jan 8 that the 8,000 sky lantern to be displayed during this year’s Chingay Parade would not be released into the sky.
AsiaOne 8 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE — The People’s Association (PA) clarified today (Jan 8) that the 8,000 sky lanterns to be displayed at this year’s Chingay Parade are not meant to be released into the sky, following concerns of the possible environmental impact if the lanterns were released.

The lanterns, which will be featured as the highlight of the parade’s grand finale, are “performance props”, said the PA on Facebook. “They will not pose any environmental issue.”

The PA said the lanterns will be reused and exhibited at the PAssionArts Festival 2016 and community events such as National Day celebrations after Chingay 2016.

They will eventually be recycled and proceeds from the recycling will go to charity, said the association.

At least 10 concerned members of the public had left comments on PA’s Facebook page asking about its plans for the lanterns.

Facebook user Veerappan Swaminathan expressed fears that the lanterns, if released, would “affect marine and land animals adversely”. These comments were echoed by users such as Shirley Yong and Ria Tan. Others, such as Lai Chiu Yun, said there would be “no way of recovering [the] lanterns once ... released” and likened it to littering. The PA replied the users, saying that the lanterns would not be released.

The lightbulb-shaped lanterns, signed by Singaporeans, will highlight core values fostered by Singapore’s founding fathers, such as racial harmony, social cohesion and integrity.

Themed “Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore”, the annual Chingay Parade will be held on Feb 19 and 20 at the F1 Pit Building in the Marina Bay area. Featuring 8,000 performers and 50 parade contingents, it is set to be the biggest ever full-scale illuminated show in the parade’s 44-year history. ASHUTOSH RAVIKRISHNAN


2,000 local, international artistes to light up Chingay Night Fiesta
There will be performances by 2,000 local and international artistes. Three hundred members of a combined choir from Community Clubs and schools will pay tribute to founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and other pioneers.
Channel NewsAsia 4 Feb 16;

SINGAPORE: This year's Chingay Night Fiesta will be held for the first time at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Set to take place on Feb 21, the Fiesta is themed "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore".

The event will also feature performances by 2,000 local and international artistes from countries like China and Russia. Three hundred members of a combined choir from Community Clubs and schools will pay tribute to founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and other pioneers.

During the parade, about 50,000 Singaporeans can also get up close with the performers, who will showcase modern and traditional dances, songs and martial arts.

At the park, there will be booths where people can request for calligraphy with words on Singapore's core values.

Among the sights will be 10,000 sky lanterns and lighted cubes, displaying illustrations by Singaporeans pledging support to the core values. It will be the first time Singaporeans will see this number of lanterns and cubes on display.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching will also attend the finale and join Singaporeans in reciting the National Pledge.

Mr Ang Hak Seng, chief executive director of the People's Association, said: "Ten thousand sky lanterns and cubes will light up the path of legacy, complemented by our Chingay float. For sights, for the first time in Singapore and in the region, you will see a 66-metre LED sky lantern or dragon that will light up the sky.

"And for sound, 50,000 Singaporeans and residents will recite our National Pledge to reaffirm our commitment as one united people towards a brighter Singapore."

- CNA/ms

Related link
Chingay 2016’s 8000 balloons not meant to be released into the sky The Online Citizen