Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) As the Lunar New Year of the Horse (2016) begins, the Lantern Festival atmosphere grows increasingly festive. The Fujian Association of Cambodia's Minsheng Campus is brightly decorated and filled with joyous celebrations. Traditional Chinese customs and the deep affection for their hometown among Fujianese people are warmly intertwined on overseas soil, with a series of celebratory activities showcasing the strong sense of unity and kinship among overseas Chinese.
From the 13th to the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Fujian Association's Xietian Temple was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums and the fragrance of incense, as the traditional procession of deities was solemnly held. Many Fujianese expatriates in Cambodia, along with local devotees, enthusiastically participated, creating a lively and warm atmosphere that brought the traditional charm of the Lantern Festival to a climax. On the morning of the Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month), Huang Meifen, President of the Fujian Association of Cambodia, along with all the directors, gathered at Xietian Temple to hold a solemn and respectful blessing ceremony, strictly following Fujianese traditions. The crowd lined up neatly, respectfully paying homage to the deities, offering exquisite sacrifices, burning incense, and praying sincerely for a prosperous and peaceful Year of the Horse, and for the harmonious and thriving overseas Chinese community.
On the evening of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the Fujian Association of Cambodia held another grand event – a Lantern Festival reunion dinner. This feast held dual special significance: it was not only a reunion for the Lantern Festival but also the association's first "Touya" (first tooth) banquet since the beginning of the Year of the Horse. "Zuoya" is a highly representative traditional custom in Fujian, with monthly rituals performed on the sixteenth day for blessings. The "Touya" of the new year symbolizes "a prosperous start and smooth sailing in all endeavors," carrying the folk traditions and cultural memories passed down through generations of Fujianese overseas Chinese. This dinner was specially designed to thank the faculty and staff of Minsheng School and to strengthen the bonds of kinship among overseas Chinese, making it exceptionally meaningful.
The dinner was filled with laughter and warm hospitality. Association leaders, prominent Fujianese, Chinese teachers dispatched from Minsheng School, and local faculty and staff gathered to enjoy a sumptuous meal, reminisce about their shared hometown, and discuss new aspirations. During the meal, everyone exchanged festive greetings, hoping for unity and progress within the overseas Chinese community, thriving businesses, and good health and happiness for every family in the new year.
