This Mid-Autumn Festival holds a special meaning for folks in Changkat Kruing New Village in Sitiawan. Sept 13, 2022
Photos: By Changkat Kruing Clean and Beautification Committee.
By Foong Pek Yee
Hundreds of villagers including many who returned from outstation celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival in Changkat Kruing New Village last week.
The two-day event kicked off with a lantern parade on Sept 8, followed by dinner the next day.
Chinese celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar with family and community gatherings, praying for everything good.
Organised by the village’s Clean and Beautification Committee, the villagers were overjoyed to learn the movement control order (MCO) for big events has been lifted and that they can celebrate the festival as a village, says committee chairman Ching Sia Tiong, 68,
He says they were unable to do so in the last two years due to the MCO.
“The village is full of excitement since a month ago when villagers started the preparations; from making lanterns, preparing food to getting family members from outstation to return for the celebration ,” says Ching.

Taking centre stage: Big lanterns on the 12 Chinese zodiac.

No small feat: Coming up with lanterns on the 12 Chinese zodiac takes much creativity, time and patience.
Utilising their creativity, talents, skills and resources, and working together to make the event a success, Ching says this has always been the villagers’ strength in all other events in the village.

All is good : Ching Sia Tiong (right) and his wife Ong Cheng Eng .

Unity is strength : Villagers preparing some food ahead of the celebration.

Full force : Villagers all out to make the celebration a success.

Finishing touch: Getting ready the food and lanterns.

Environmentally friendly: Empty cans are turned into brightly coloured lanterns.

Lanterns on wheels: A very old type of lanterns using empty cans.