It Is A Night Of Poetic Romance And
Enchantment!
Chap Goh Meh the
fifteenth night of the Chinese lunar New Year.
Promises of youthful romance fills this full moon night, the first full moon of the
New Year! This night marks the
culmination of the New Year celebrations, and holds special significance to the Penang Straits
Chinese Baba Nyonya. 
It Is The Night Of Chap Goh Meh Dondang
Sayang!
The highlight of the end of the Chinese New Year Celebrations is the
entertaining Dondang Sayang troupe.
These are made up of a gathering of Baba musicians going from house to
house riding on a bullock cart , then progressing to open topped automobiles,
and today, a gaily decorated bus lit up by a hundred light bulbs, with lanterns, swaying and pink skirting
flying! They indulge in light-hearted witty teasing exchange of ballads and
pantuns, themes of romance and love. The
Dondang Sayang minstrels entertain and soon get everyone on the floor for a
spot of joget, dancing, and ronggeng.
The party will go on till late in the night.
“Thim Kum Khua Ho Ang!”
Young maidens, previously cloistered, are chaperoned to admire the full moon and join in the New Year festivities. A highlight for the these young girls would be Tim Kum, tossing oranges into rivers, Coast Road (Gurney Drive) and presently, the Esplanade seaside, wishing for good husbands.
The Penang Baba Nyonyas continue this celebration, carried over from the last century. In this unusual year, we shall continue this tradition, adapting to the new normal. A sia nah of mandarin oranges, keroncong music playing … as I slip into my kasot manek for a spot of joget!
Esplanade, Penang 2021