Every Chinese New Year, the streets of George Town - capital city of
Malaysia’s Penang state – come alive with vibrant street festivals full of
fascinating cultural displays.
In this series, I wanted to show some of its amazing sights. The most
spectacular are Traditional Lion Dance on Stilts performances with
breathtaking aerial stunts, and Chingay shows where practitioners flick
and catch giant flagpoles with various parts of their body.
Cultural dances are highly symbolic, and often depict ancient tales of
fairies descending from heaven. So too are thunderous drum sessions,
believed to scare off evil spirits. Mythological figures also make
appearances to have fun with youngsters and reacquaint them with
tradition.
This rich culture helped the city secure UNESCO World Heritage status
2008, and make it a prominent tourist destination that ranks high on
many travel lists today. It is truly a feast for the senses.
