Chingay Parade 2014, one of Asia’s grandest street and floats parades, kicked off in Singapore in the night of February 7.

Started in 1973, the annual festival showcases the rich, vibrant multi-culture of Singapore and exciting global cultures.

Chingay 2014 celebrates the "We are one" Singapore Spirit. Themed "Colours of Fabric, One People", the event is reflected in the fabric art of batik paining and tapestries knitting co-created by tens of thousands of people from different races, ages, estates and backgrounds.

Involving in the two-day event are 2,000 parade volunteers, 8,000 volunteer performers and around 500 performers from six countries, namely China, Indonesia, Italy, Myanmar, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.

Chinese performers, comprising many children between 5 to 10 years of age, bring to the Chingay 2014 the demonstration of Wuchuan Piao Se with characters being from historical stories and fairy tales, while the Indonesian dancers with Gelar Tari Topeng.

The Italian joins the parade with flag wavers and musicians playing drums and trumpets; the Republic of Korea presents Hwakwan-mu (Flower Crown Dance) – one of the country’s oldest forms of court dances, Philippine girls in traditional "malong" costumes performe Inaul Malong dance.

Chingay 2014 sets records in Singapore book with the largest display of Batik, 350 metres long and 8 metres wide, the greatest number of 2,000 coloured flags on display, and the first ever largest ballet contingent of 400 ballet dancers aged from 5 to 19.-VNA