JOHOR BARU: The 2016 Chingay celebration took off with much pomp and gaiety as it welcomed its guest of honour, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, here tonight.
The ruler arrived at the procession's grandstand at 8.25pm and was greeted with roars of "Daulat Tuanku!"
The audience then watched Sultan Ibrahim's special video message, in which he wished the people well for the annual Chingay and urged them to unite in the spirit of Bangsa Johor, which was played on the big screen at the grandstand.
The Sultan later beat the drums to officially open the procession.
Some 200,000 participants and spectators lined the streets of the downtown area to watch the procession.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai, president of the Johor Baru Tionghua Association, which organised the procession.
Many came to witness the various cultural performances and dances as well as the 20 brightly decorated floats along the 10km procession.
The biggest cheers came when the five iconic dieties of the five main Chinese dialect clans passed by the grandstand.
The deities comprised Yuan Tian Shang Di (Teochew), Hong Xian Da Di (Hokkien), Gan Tian Da Di (Hakka), Hua Guang Da Di (Cantonese) and Zhao Da Yuan Shuai (Hainan).
Chingay is held on the 21st day of the Lunar New Year and has become a national heritage event.
Devotees will bring out deities from the Johor Ku Miao Temple (Johor Ancient Temple) for an annual 'tour' of the city to bless its people.
Through the years, Chingay has evolved into a multicultural event.
The Zhao Da Yuan Shuai deity, known as the God of Wealth would usually be up front, and is carried by devotees from the Johor Baru Hainan Association.
This is followed by Hua Guang Da Di, or God of Fire (Johor Baru Kwong Siew Wai Kuan Association); Gan Tian Da Dim or Earth God (Johor Baru Thoong Nyien Hakka Association); Hong Xian Da Di, which symbolises irrigation (Hokkien Huay Kuan Johor Baru Association) and Yuan Tian Shang Di (Teochew Eight Districts Association).
Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association president Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai said members of the Malaysian Red Crescent and state health department were stationed at the event in case if any incidences.
"The main attraction of the Chingay festival are the flotillas where this year visitors will see more of the Red Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac, symbolising the year of the monkey," he said.
Major roads in the city were closed to traffic starting 5pm.
This year's Chingay is being telecast live online courtesy of Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd, which is the developer of Forest City.
The broadcast can be viewed at www.chingay.com.