The Grandiest Lantern Festival of all Time in S1BU.

(Photo: The Back drop of the Launching of the Lantern Festival)

This year the Lantern Festival Celebration in S1Bu will going to be a very special one. Why? Last Saturday, 26th of September 2009 (one week before the lantern festival day), Sibu Municipal Council, Kutien Association, Chinese Temple jointly lighted up the newly installed 7000 lanterns hanging at the compound of Oldest Chinese "Eng Ann " Temple ,along the Old Street, Channel Road , Chinese Temple road until the Sibu Gateway covering a total distant of 1.5 to 2 km.


(Photo: the Grand Old S1BU pride- the "Kwan Ing" Pagoda)

The beginning of the Lantern line up, you could see the lighted up of a Dragon Head (at the temple), followed by the streets lined with lanterns and ended at the Sibu Gateway (the tail of the Dragon) with the S1BU mascot-the Swan (or the Phoenix).

(Photo: Dragon Head)

(Photo: Dragon Head)

(Photo: Lantern brightly lighted a long Chinese Chamber Street)

(Photo: along Channel Road)

(Photo: at the Sibu Gateway (the end of the lantern)

(Photo: at Sibu Gateway)

(Photo: 1CEO(SMC) Mr. Hii Chang Kee with Friend (a blogger too))

(Photo: Our Magnificent S1bu Mascot, the Swan or Phoenix)

(Photo: This is something outside the Lantern Festival, a "special dragon" which they said is the big brother of all dragons having Dragon head, Tortoise body and Phoenix craws. This was found sitting at the main Stage during the Festival launching)

This is a Malaysian Book of Record (unofficial) and another S1BU boleh!! The Organisers said that this will be made an annual event and the next one will be better.(What's about creating a Guinness Book of Record ?)

From the National News , Our 1Malaysia, our PM had announced that the Government will be giving a grant of a quarter Million to the Organisers (NGOs) of the KL lantern Festival and it would be good if the state government could give a grant for the S1Bu Lantern Festival too. What's do you think?

For those Chinese educated, you might be wondering why the back drop of the launching ceremony mentioned is the launching of the 1st Borneo Lantern Festival and from the start, why I don't mention it's the 1st Borneo lantern Festival ? Well, felt that it would be better if it is call the 1st Sibu Lantern Festival but ........I think "Borneo" more marketable.

More goodies will be distributed during the actual date of the Lantern Festival or Moon Cake Festival on the 3rd of October 2009 (as reported in the local dailies) that about 8000 lanterns will be distributed free to the public. (Organisers! what's about distributing free Moon Cakes?) Come in group & Get your lantern and Feel the mood.

A very Happy lantern or Moon Cake festival to all.