Grand festivities to mark City Day

FOR Penang, New Year’s Day holds special significance. More than just the start of another calendar year, it’s also the day when its capital, George Town, was accorded city status some 54 years ago. To mark that momentous occasion, a grand George Town City Day Celebration is set to be held at the Esplanade on Jan 1, 2011 beginning 5pm, where everything that is unique about Penang from cultures and traditions to food, arts and sports will be on show to locals and visitors alike.

Themed George Town 1111, the event will start off with an estimated 100 stalls in a Food, Art and Craft Carnival highlighting a diverse range of cuisine and trades, as well as a Traditional Sports Carnival aimed at promoting cultural heritage. Visitors will be able to take part in traditional games such as batu seremban, congkak, dam aji and sepak raga, or watch artisans display their skills in rattan, bamboo and Nyonya beaded craft, wood engraving and much more. Organised by the Penang Municipal Council, the events highlight will be the City Day Parade beginning 8.30pm, with an estimated 2,000 participants representing various local communities.

Speaking during a press conference at G Hotel to announce the event, council president Patahiyah Ismail said the moving performance would include Dondang Sayang, Boria and Ghazal Parti, Chinese, Indian and Punjabi cultural shows, school bands and a parade of 1,111 cyclists.
“This is a celebration for the people of Penang, and we hope everyone would turn up in full force. There will also be a mind-blowing surprise on that night, so come and see for yourselves,” Patahiyah said. The events programme coordinator Joe Sidek also encouraged locals to turn up in their traditional costumes, as it would be the ideal time for them to come forward and take pride in their roots. He said that the celebrations would be on a grand scale similar to the first one on Jan 1, 1957, when British High Commissioner Sir Donald C. MacGillivary delivered a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at the Esplanade itself, making George Town the first city in the Federation of Malaya.

“Penang has been traditionally cosmopolitan since the 1700s. That melting pot is what makes us special. “We had 1Malaysia even before the term was invented!” Sidek added. Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang Chapter chairman Marco Battistotti said the event would also extend the end-of-year festivities, giving visitors something extra to enjoy after the Christmas and New Years Eve activities.
-thestar online.