Battersea’s celebrASIA will be an annual affair now after the success of its inaugural event. — Photos: CHARLIE ROUND-TURNER
With the first leaves of autumn starting to fall in London, the Malaysian-owned Battersea Power Station was transformed into a festival site from Sept 13-15.
The iconic landmark with the unmistakable twin giant smokestacks on the banks of the River Thames hosted celebrASIA – a brand-new festival for Britain celebrating South-East Asian heritage and culture.
More than 154,000 visitors flocked to Battersea over the three days, many of whom were visiting the neighbourhood for the first time, to experience authentic food and drink, arts and craft masterclasses, and live performances, as well as to check out the Artisan Market.
These visitors were taken on a journey from Malaysia to Singapore, right to the Philippines and Indonesia, via Battersea’s collaboration with the High Commissioners and Ambassadors from Asean. In total, 10 of these diplomatic offices worked together to create a truly authentic and immersive experience.
Sabapathy (left) and Zakri at the celebrASIA launch. — GRANT SILVERMAN
“Our inaugural celebrASIA festival was a record-breaking success with visitors immersing themselves in South-East Asia’s rich culture and heritage over the three days, through its cuisine, arts and craft, music, dance and more. It was our busiest weekend ever at Battersea Power Station and watching people enjoy the variety of traditional delicacies on offer and try their hand at some of the region’s specialist crafts such as batik painting was very special,” said the chairman of Battersea Project Holding Company Tan Sri Jagan Sabapathy.
“Along with overwhelmingly positive feedback from many of our visitors, retailers and festival vendors, we welcomed a number of new people to Battersea Power Station who enjoyed the festivities and discovered our neighbourhood for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming them back again soon,” he said.
Indeed, the three-day festival also drew huge visitor numbers from London’s South-East Asian community, enjoying a rare opportunity to see their cultures put on a global stage at the iconic landmark.
A Malaysian kompang performance by Gema Paluan Coventry at the Battersea Power Station.
The roads leading up to Battersea were lined with 21 food trucks offering South-East Asian cuisine like Thailand’s pad thai, Singapore’s chilli crab and Vietnam’s pho. Inside, the concourse spaces were taken up with artisanal stalls and workshops.
The Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Zakri Jaafar, who spoke at the launch reception, lauded the festival’s objectives.
“What served as an ambitious proposal by Battersea Power Station and delivered through six months of dedicated collaboration with the 10 South-East Asian Missions in London, and numerous supportive partners, blossomed into this magnificent celebration we experience today.
“CelebrASIA is a reflection of Asean’s unique cultures through its exquisitely palatable gastronomic experience and taste, as well as its diverse arts and performances and lively and enchanting music that reside in the hearts and soul of our community,” he said, adding that he hoped that Battersea Power Station would continue to host the festival as an annual event to promote Asean to the various communities in Britain.
The street food stalls and food trucks during the three-day festival were a big hit.
Highlights from the festival included striking decorations from elephant sculptures, traditional kites and tuk-tuks, to delicacies from Malaysia’s Roti King, Eat Lah and Pandan Bakery, masterclasses including crafting a personalised pewter dish at Royal Selangor’s School of Hard Knocks, and even Malaysian childhood games like “Tuju Selipar” (also known as “Baling Selipar”).
Even though the festival highlighted the multi-cultural diversity of South-East Asia, in many ways, the Malaysian contingent was probably the proudest.
Malaysia Day was on Sept 16, a fact not lost on many of the overseas Malaysians, who came suitably attired in home colours and waving small Jalur Gemilang flags.
In terms of the gastronomic delights available during the three-day event, Malaysian food was the most popular. The mother-daughter team that ran Pandan Bakery sold out even after replenishing their stock daily.
Datuk Yong Yoon Li of Royal Selangor reported the most footfalls in his Battersea store over the three days and the pewter making workshops were a big hit with Londoners, many of whom had never seen pewter items before.
Parents and children participating in the crafting of a personalised pewter dish at Royal Selangor’s School of Hard Knocks.
According to Sam Cotton, Battersea’s head of asset management, the landmark has become a vibrant hub for arts and culture.
“Battersea Power Station offers a diverse line-up of events year-round, such as our enchanting Light Festival and lively summer activities, ensuring there’s always something new to discover when visiting,” he said.
“Our next major event will be celebrating the Christmas festive season with the return of Glide at Battersea Power Station, London’s only riverside ice rink, a brand new Santa’s Grotto experience and stunning decorations transforming the riverside neighbourhood into a magical destination for all to enjoy.
“When people think of Christmas in London, we want them to immediately think of Battersea Power Station being the place to visit so we are going bolder, brighter and more festive than ever before this year,” he added.
Apart from food and performances, there were also arts and craft experiences at CelebrASIA like this Batik Art Painting Masterclass.
And celebrASIA will once again make its presence felt next year after the overwhelming success of the inaugural festival.
The last word then goes to Battersea’s Malaysian chairman: “Thanks to the strong collaboration and support from the Asean High Commissioners and Ambassadors, celebrASIA was a truly authentic and inclusive event that we plan to make a permanent fixture in London’s event calendar.
“We are now in the early planning stages for celebrASIA 2025, where we will be enhancing the festival to make it even more significant and impactful, drawing even greater numbers of visitors to Battersea Power Station,” said Sabapathy.
From pad thai and pho to chilli crab and nasi lemak, the food options at the festival were plenty.
