柔佛古庙游神 Johor Chingay 2024

In other Chinese areas, the atmosphere of Chinese New Year fades right after the Lantern Festival. However, in Johor Bahru, the town is still bustling with excitement even after the 15th day of the first lunar month, and the atmosphere is even more enthusiastic, because for the people in Johor Bahru, the New Year is not officially over until after the 20th day of the first month.

"Go home and join the Chingay Festival!" is a must-attend event for Johor Bahru people every year. The five-day-long festival is not only about the strong yelling of “Heng ah! Huat Ah!” but it also carries the people’s nostalgia to the native land and veneration of Deities.

The five major clans is a unique structure of the Chinese community in Johor Bahru. The five clans have their own associations which include Teochew Eight Districts Association, Hokkien Association, Johor Bahru Kwong Siew Wai Kuan, Hakka Association and Persatuan Hainan Johor Bahru.

The five deities enshrined in Ancient Temple are worshipped by each of the five clans, and it is under the promotion of the five clans that the Chingay Festival has been held for more than a hundred years and has become increasingly exciting as well as an international event, showing the world the mobilisation system and power of the Johor Bahru’s Chinese community.

The slogan “Ancient Temple Spirit and Five-Clan Harmony” refers to the fact that each clan has its own role to play and works closely with the Johor Bahru Chinese Association to safeguard the rights and interests of the Chinese community and to maintain peace in the community, making the Ancient Temple a symbol of the Chinese community’s spirit in Johor Bahru.