3rd Cheongsam Cultural Festival sees 550 women donning traditional attire fused with batik designs

Wee (front, fifth left) with guests and the participants of the 3rd Cheongsam Cultural Festival at the MBKS Kuching Park Auditorium Complex on October 20, 2024.

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, October 20: This year’s Cheongsam Cultural Festival saw 550 women proudly parading their traditional cheongsams fused with the beauty of batik designs.

In his speech, Kuching City South Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng elaborated that incorporating the unique local batik culture embodied the intercultural charm and unity that defines Sarawak’s diverse and harmonious community.

He added that the event not only continues its mission to promote the beauty and heritage of the traditional cheongsam but strengthens the integration and unity of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak.

“Through events like this, we create a platform for celebrating our diversity while fostering mutual understanding, care, and support among different communities,” he said while officiating the 3rd Cheongsam Cultural Festival 2024 at the MBKS Kuching Park Auditorium this morning.

Wee said the festival is more than just a cultural event; it is also a celebration of the creative spirit of the people, uniting different traditions to create something uniquely Sarawakian.

“Through this cultural festival, we hope to not only celebrate our heritage but also attract more foreign visitors to Sarawak, contributing to the development of our local tourism, arts, and culture sectors,” he said.

The festival aims to encourage more women to showcase themselves on stage, promote the cheongsam, and spread the timeless beauty of the East.

The programmes included a garden parade and cultural exchange, a Chinese round fan scenery painting activity, performances by Zhi Wei and My Destiny, a children’s colouring contest, and the Cheongsam contests open to women of all ethnic backgrounds. —DayakDaily