The annual Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in Singapore will be scaled down (Photo: visitsingapore.com). Singapore (VNA) – The annual Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in Singapore will be scaled down with most events held online to ensure safe distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Online competitions such as lantern painting or Instagram photo contests will be held instead of nightly stage shows, festive bazaars and mass lantern walks.
A 360-degree virtual tour of the decorations in Singapore’s Chinatown will be made available so that people can admire them from the comfort of their homes.
This year’s light-up ceremony, to be live-streamed online, will comprise about 700 lanterns and sculptures depicting traditional festival motifs and characters.
The display will illustrate this year's theme – family – and underscore the central role that familial ties play in getting Singaporeans through the crisis.
“It reminds all Singaporeans that we can weather through this crisis as one united Singapore family,” said Vincent Tan, chairman of the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 Organising Committee.
It provides a chance to uplift the spirits of Singaporeans during this difficult time, Tan noted, adding that it also demonstrates the committee's commitment to promote the heritage and traditions of the festival despite the current hard circumstances.
He said the committee decided to scale down the event and be more financially prudent in marking the festival this year, in view of COVID-19. This year's celebrations are expected to cost 70 percent less than in previous years.
The celebrations will run through October 16./.
VNA
