The Lunar Year celebrations is the most important traditional festival in China and also one of the important festivals celebrated by Chinese worldwide.
The Chinese community in Kenya on Saturday, February 10, celebrated the Chinese New Year in an event that was marked with pomp and colour and graced by various dignitaries, and guests.
Held at the Chris Kirubi Square in Two Rivers mall, the event celebrated the “joyful and peaceful” Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival culture.
It was celebrated through art performances and exhibitions, food tasting and other cultural activities, with Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian and the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Zainab Hawa Bangura, being some of the guests who were in attendance.
Others were the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association Councilor Gao Wei, Kenya China Alumni Association Chairman Henry Rotich, the Chinese community living in Kenya and friends.
“The 78th United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution to designate the Lunar New Year as a United Nations holiday,” said Wei. “For us Chinese living overseas, celebrating the Spring Festival holds many special meanings. 2024 is the year of the Dragon, the typical Chinese dragon is a fascinating creature deeply embedded in Chinese culture as a symbol of luck, strength, and wisdom.”
Mr Wei added that the event was a significant one in the Chinese calendar as the Lunar New Year is an important traditional festival for the Chinese people and a carrier of Chinese culture.
He noted that the celebration carries with it concepts such as unity between nature and mankind, renewal of all things, joy, harmony, dialogue and sharing.
“It is a festival of nature, family, soul, and belongs to the world. It embodies the core values of harmony, love and peace in Chinese culture, and symbolizes the Chinese people’s love for the family, the nation and as well as the world,” he said.
The gala, which was organized by the Kenya Overseas Chinese Association and the Kenya Chinese Women Association, was entry-free, and featured Chinese cultural exhibitions, festive performances, Chinese cuisines and interactive games, with participation from 53 organisations and nearly 150 performers.
Appropriately one-fifth of the world’s population celebrates it in different forms, according to information from the Chinese government. Nearly 20 countries have also listed the Lunar New Year as a public holiday or festival.
Also, Lunar New Year activities have been organized in almost 200 countries and regions, becoming a global cultural extravaganza and bringing joyful experiences to people around the globe.
