Myanmar-Chinese starts celebrating in Yangon

YANGON, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar-Chinese in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon began celebrating the traditional lunar new year with the grandest-ever festive march of lion and dragon dancing groups in decades in the city's Chinatown Wednesday afternoon, the eve of the spring festival.

With large drums beating, a total of seven lion and three long-dragon dancing groups as well as groups portraying the characters of eight immortals (which cross sea) and Tang Seng vulnerable monkand his three followers in the story "Journey to the West" participated in the round-the-Chinatown march in the rare procession, attracting waves of onlookers.

The marchers paid homage to the Guangdong Guanyin (god of mercy)Temple and Fujian Qingfu Gong Temple, the two largest Buddhist temples in the Chinatown, when they passed by.

Of the seven lion dancing groups, six will take part in lion dance competitions scheduled for next Monday, the 5th day of the Chinese new year, event organizer Zhou Baofu, who is a Guangdong native, told Xinhua.

These groups are Y.S.L, Global Lion, Dragon, Lion Boy, Pearl Black and the Last Don, he said.

The southern-style lion dance contests will run for four consecutive nights, coupled with dragon dancing and Kungfu (martial art) demonstration by younger generations.

According to the organizer, the competitions will be the third of its kind and include ground dancing, on-pole and on-table dancing. The first and second prize winning groups will be awarded with newly-imported lion heads for dancing from Singapore and the two groups will repeat their wonderful performances to the satisfaction of the audiences, the organizer added.

On the 1st and 3rd of the new year, Overseas Chinese New Year Joint Carol Singing Group and Myanmar-Guangdong Music Band will give indoor musical performances in the Chinatown, it is learnt.