Goh is happy to see the festival returning to its former glory.
TAKING part in the Johor Baru Chingay procession has been an annual affair for Sin Yu Le since she was 14 years old.
Sin, 23, and her friends, donning their clan T-shirt, would walk more than 7km each Chingay festival.
“It is such a great experience. Along the way, we get to see all kinds of performances and people praying when the deities pass by.
“Many also take this opportunity to touch the deities for blessings. I also enjoy chanting heng ah! (prosperity) and huat ah! (good fortune) with the crowd throughout the procession.
“After three years of waiting, I am glad my friends and I can join the procession again,” said the clerk.
Sin was among hundreds of thousands taking part in this year’s procession.
For insurance agent Goh Luan Fong, 59, Chingay’s return to its former glory is a dream come true.
“I have been waiting for this day to come for the past three years. It feels like something is missing when we don’t get to experience such a significant tradition.
“I have been taking part in the procession every year from a young age. I am very relieved to see the festival being celebrated on such a large scale,” he said.
Puspakom runner Mohd Amirul Aiman Abduallah, 42, said he took his children to Jalan Wong Ah Fook to witness the festival.
“I bring my children to the festival as I want them to know more about the culture.
“I explain its significance and what it means to the Chinese community. I am glad to witness it again,” he said.
Hezrina is excited to see the famous Johor Baru Chingay Festival on a grand scale.
Housewife Hezrina Hedzer, 53, was excited to see the famous Johor Baru Chingay Festival.
“I grew up in Penang and have seen the Chingay festival there a few times.
“This is my first time seeing it at such a large scale in Johor Baru,” she said.
“I live in the middle of Johor Baru, so during the Chingay procession in 2020, I saw five trucks passing by my house.
“I often wondered how it would be during the Johor Baru Chingay Festival and now, I have seen it,” said Hezrina.
Danciu and Cristodorescu from Romania are among tourists who witnessed this year’s festival.
Romanian couple Grey Danciu, 35, and Ioana Cristodorescu, 23, were also mesmerised by the Chingay’s colourful display.
“We have never heard of such a festival before,” said Danciu.
“Earlier in the day, we visited the Johor Ancient Temple and were told by a local there about the Chingay festival.
“We were curious and made our way here to see it for ourselves.
“It was such a spectacular sight and so much better than what we had imagined.
“We feel lucky to be here at the right time. It was a bonus as it was not part of our travel plan.
“We will definitely tell our friends back home about it,” Danciu added.
Meanwhile, Nora Roos, 30, and Desiree Frecot, 27, from Germany learned about the festival from their Malaysian friend.
“Our friend, who is from Johor, has been taking us around the country during our two-week visit.
“When she told us about the festival, we were very excited as we had never seen such a thing in Europe.
“It is such a beautiful culture and we are really glad to be able to witness it at least once in our lives,” said Roos.
