Many firsts at this year’s Chingay parade

SINGAPORE — Organisers of this year’s Chingay have promised audiences a 4D experience: Besides the usual fanfare, spectators can look forward to a whiff of cooking aromas at the 41st edition of the annual parade.

About 400 members of culinary interest groups from more than 300 community cubs and residents’ committees will whip up a segment involving dance, skating and cooking.

Ms Daisy Koh, a spokesperson for the PAssion Culinary contingent, sees Chingay as a platform to showcase not only the members’ culinary skills, but also bonds forged since the interest groups were set up in 2011. “We hope to encourage others to initiate grassroots organisations,” she said.

The culinary contingent is one of the many “firsts” to be featured at the Chingay parade, which will be held on Feb 22 and 23 at the F1 Pit building.

This year’s parade will involve some 10,000 volunteer performers, the highest number in Chingay’s history. Mr Yam Ah Mee, Chief Executive Director of the People’s Association, will be involved in the PAssion Culinary performance.

The parade will also feature another first, as it pays tribute to 1,800 Singaporeans who demonstrated a resilient spirit despite encountering harsh conditions.

Ultra-marathoner Lim Nghee Huat, who ran to raise funds for the less privileged, and entrepreneur Nanz Chong are among those nominated as “resilient Singaporeans”. Twenty of these Singaporeans will participate in the finale performance, while the rest have been invited to watch the show.

This is also the first Chingay parade to include a National Education show, which aims to educate students about multicultural harmony, the Singapore spirit as well as volunteerism. Approximately 8,000 Primary 2 to Secondary 4 students from 56 schools will watch the show on Saturday evening.