Chingay In Singapore, Penang And Johor Bahru: Inside Asia’s Largest Street Performance

A vibrant fusion of art and culture, the Chingay Parade has now been jointly nominated by Singapore and Malaysia for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. What does that mean for the annual spectacle held in Singapore, Johor Bahru and George Town? This documentary traces the shared history of Chingay, from its roots to its unique evolution in the three cities, where today, it is an imposing religious procession in Johor Bahru, a spellbinding acrobatic display in George Town and a colourful multicultural showcase in Singapore. It will examine the elements that make Chingay an important cultural heritage and will also go behind-the-scenes to meet the performers and volunteers as they prepare for the 2026 processions. These participants – those who return year after year as well as newbies joining for the first time – are the beating heart of Chingay, who with their dedication have transformed the parade into a living heritage. 00:00 What is Chingay? 01:19 Singapore: Stilt walkers and parade prep 03:16 Origins of Chingay in Southeast Asia 04:55 Penang: Training for giant flag performance 09:43 UNESCO heritage bid: Why Chingay matters 11:25 Singapore: Migrant workers join the parade 12:30 Impact of Lee Kuan Yew's 1973 firecracker ban 14:47 Rehearsals and first-time performers 18:24 Building Chingay floats 26:06 Parade Day in Penang 29:50 Johor Bahru: Rituals and procession explained 34:41 Deities leave ancient temple 38:02 Night Chingay parade 41:21 Parade Day in Singapore ===== About the show: Singapore and Malaysia have jointly nominated the Chingay Parade for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. What does that mean for the annual spectacle held in Singapore, JB and George Town? ========== #CNAInsider #Singapore #Chingay #UNESCO #Malaysia #JohorBahru #Penang #GeorgeTown #Culture #Heritage #Parade For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnainsider/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnainsider/ Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider