The Chingay Parade is one of the biggest parades held in Singapore and Malaysia. It is an annual event to celebrate the birthdays of Chinese deities or the procession of the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. 

 

The term 'Chingay' itself means "True Art" in the Mandarin phonics "Zhengyi "and used to be celebrated by the Chinese as part of Chinese New Year festivities. It is now celebrated by all racial communities in both Singapore and Malaysia, with international acts partaking in Chingay as well. 

 

Holding the Chingay Parade in Singapore was the brainchild of our then Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who worked with the People's Association and the Singapore National Pugilistic Association to propose this, in response to the firecracker ban due to concerns over fire hazards back in 1972

 

On the 4th of Feburary 1973, Singapore held its very first Chingay Parade and within 4 years, the largely Chinese parade became a uniquely multi-cultural in character when Indian and Malay started joining the performances