Members of the Chinese Youth, Social and Cultural Association took to the streets of Suva yesterday to perform the iconic ‘lion dance’ to mark the Lunar New Year.
Association instructor Joshua Wong Lee said the group would go around the greater Suva area to bless businesses with the dance. “The lion dance is basically to chase away all bad spirits and bring fortune,” he said.
“The dance brings a new cycle of fortune to the companies for the Lunar New Year.
“The celebration starts on the eve of new years, the family have their dinner, their prayers and the Chinese rituals.
“The second midnight usually in China they have the lion dance to bring prosperity.”
The group, he said, went through weeks of preparation before the celebrations.
Meanwhile, the Chinese community will have a celebration at the Yat Sen hall today, where Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Chinese ambassador Qian Bo will be chief guests.
The event would include a fan dance, umbrella dance, Han dynasty show, quiz, songs together with games and food stalls will be part of the program.
This is also a fundraising event for cyclone relief efforts.
