Chingay 2012: Love, care &kindness everywhere, on the waterway

In 2010 I saw my first Chingay; Singapore's big street parade. We bought tickets and watched the show; it was beautiful!

The year after, 2011, we did not buy tickets, but went 'behind the scenes' in the hours before the show and we had a great time taking pictures.

This year, 2012, I first went 'behind the scenes' and later watched the 'after-parade'. Having a great time again!

Both in 2011 as this year balloons were omnipresent. Singapore really has fantastic balloon twisters and sculptors that can make about anything; from wearable clothes and accessories (2011) to wearable lion - and other animal-hats.

This rainbow was gigantic!

There were love-zeppelins.

And big hot air balloons.

The parade was going over a 360 meters long shallow waterway.

'Behind and around the scenes' it was hustling and bustling with activities. 8000 participants were walking around, doing their make-up, putting on their costumes, amidst of the giant floats and 1000's of props.
So much colour, energy and fun!


There were acrobats and jugglers:

Manga- and Cosplay-adepts:

Disco ladies:

Being the year of the dragon, there were even more dragons in the parade then usual.

There are always groups participating from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The Indian group had a Swan theme. Very pretty too, especially when lit at night during the parade!

Next to swans there were seahorses:

Hearts:

Komodo dragons:

Elephants:

And this is the Japanese float:

With Chinese girls posing in front of it:

And numerous other participants everywhere:

(Note the 'water-shoes' , by the way, worn by all 8000 participants in colours matching their costumes.)

Some hours later the after-parade passed by. In the evening, with lots of lights, the floats and props got a totally different look!

A very unique and unusual act was the live dragon; consisting only of human bodies.

Then there was the dragon with the largest head:

And a sort of a sisal-incense dragon. Very special and gorgeous!

The float and troupe from China was huge in numbers and of great elegance and beauty.

This Indian troupe was a real spectacle: the lit, coloured elephants and the happy dancers with the beautiful costumes; a true feast for the eyes!

The Japanese float was more modest, but in good spirit too:

The Indonesian troupe carried around lions and a Komodo dragon; nice!

There were butterflies...

And red-dressed people with white balls...

Sports were present as well:

So was Star Wars, like the other years:

Many of the troupes this year were enormous; some consisted of 800 people!

This was Chingay 2012 in pictures. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!