MID-AUTUMN
AT THE INNCROWD
(8 to 12 Sept 2003) |
THROUGH
THE EYES OF...
Sonya Sherman
- Canberra, Oz
The Mid-Autumn Festival is held in the 8th month
of the Chinese lunar year, when the full moon appears at its biggest
and brightest. It is a time to be thankful and to celebrate with family
and friends, as the moon is a symbol of harmony, luck and prosperity.
This is an important occasion, marked by Chinese communities around
the world. In Singapore the festival is preceded by two weeks of special
events, and bunkies from The InnCrowd were keen to be involved.
Traditionally, children carry colourful paper lanterns in processions,
to pay honour and respect to the moon. About 20 of us gathered at the
hostel, then set off through the streets of Little India bearing lanterns
of all sizes and shapes. Some lanterns looked like animals (a rabbit,
a snail, a fish), others like children or the sun. Some were shaped
like regular Chinese lanterns - brightly patterned boxes with eyecatching
paper circles dangling and swaying in the breeze.
We
must have made a crazy sight, trying to flag down a bunch of taxis on
the main street. Somehow, Hai and Ping managed to convince the drivers
to take us to MacRitchie Reservoir. It was a beautiful walk. Behind
us, the lights of skyscrapers twinkled in the distance. The way ahead
was lit only by our curious and comical lanterns, as the procession
moved like a caterpillar through a maze of bridges and walkways over
the water.
Eventually we reached a small pavillion on the edge of the reservoir,
where we stopped for a break and a short talk on the history and traditions
of the Mid-Autumn Festival (by moi!). As a harvest festival, the main
objective is to make the moon as big and round and bright as possible.
This will ensure abundance and good luck for the coming season. It was
quite cloudy that night. However, after lots of whooping, shouting and
lantern-waving, The InnCrowd cleared the skies and the moon shone through!
Mission accomplished, we set off for an adventure through the rainforest.
Apparently Singapore is the only place in the world with a rainforest
in the centre of the city! It was peaceful and magical, especially the
vision of our procession reflecting in the water. By this stage, the
candles were burning low and the lanterns barely lit the path beneath
our feet. For a bonding experience, there is nothing quite like creeping
through the inky blackness of a forest at night. The silence was only
broken by the buzz of cicadas and the rustling of monkeys in the trees!
We started getting nervous but Hai convinced us to stand still long
enough to capture the moment on film. Thanks Hai!
As a reward for our bravery, we were treated to the best part of Mid-Autumn
Festival - the sharing of mooncakes. These are small round pastries
with sweet fillings of red bean or lotus seed paste. Mmmmmmm, delicious.
We then posed for a few more great pictures before heading home. There
were many other exciting Mid-Autumn festivities still to come...
Sonya
Sherman -12 September 2003
|
Chinatown with Kev, Therese and Reg.
|
Carine, Claire, Scott, Rodrigo and Yash.
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