There was tremendous excitement and talk of the town.
Touted as Malaysia’s greatest tourism parade, the Colours of 1 Malaysia 2010 or Citrawarna 1 Malaysia 2010 cultural extravaganza held at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night, 22 May 2010 dazzled local and foreign visitors in a kaleidoscope of colourful multi-ethnic costumes, songs and dances.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (His Majesty the King) Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Her majesty the Queen) Tuanku Nur Zahirah launched the colourful event.
The 1.5 km parade involving some 5,500 participants started at 8.30 pm in Jalan Raja in front of Sultan Abdul Samad building. Dressed in colourful costumes they presented a spectacular show with a continuous presentation of multi-ethnic music and dances in front of the King and Queen, cabinet ministers, VIP visitors, foreign guests and tens of thousands of others before moving through Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Isfahan, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and heading back to Jalan Raja and Dataran Merdeka.
Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Deputy Tourism Minister Dato' Dr James Dawos Mamit, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim and Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravan were among the VIPs attending at the event. Others include the Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie and his wife Yoko Horie and American celebrity lifestyle guru and television icon Martha Stewart who was a special guest of the Tourism Malaysia.
The peak of the event was a mega song and dance presentation of Dikir Barat (a style of call and response singing originating in the state of Kelantan) by the 5,500 performers setting a Malaysia Book of Records as the Larget Dikir Barat Performance ever in Malaysia.
Mai Tomyam had the privilege to capture the diversity of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic peoples and cultures in celebrating the sights, sounds and colours of the spectacular Colours of 1 Malaysia 2010 festival.
Performances in parade:
Some 5, 500 participants, including 3,000 students from schools in the Klang Valley, dressed in bright colourful outfits and costumes presented colourful cultural performances that kept the mammoth crowd enthralled.
A variety of drums performance.
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A Malay traditional dance with the kompang (traditional Malay drums).
The elaborately-decorated kites (wau) and shadow puppet (wayang kulit) are among the popular cultural practices of the Malays.
The group playing keroncong style music.
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The students from SMK Seksyen 1 Bandar Kinrara performing the orang asli (natives) dance called Sewang.
The performers with their attractive outfits grab the undivided attention of the crowd.
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The performers showing off their graceful moves.
The performers captivating the crowd with colourful and vibrant design batik fabrics.
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The dance that portray the diversity in culture and ethnic backgrounds of 1 Malaysia.
The performers delighting the crowd with their moves.
A Chinese fan dance.
An Indian traditional dance.
An Indian classical dance with elaborate make-up and colourful costumes.
The Indian Poikal Kudhurai Aattam dummy horse dance.
An Indian peacock dance.
The Iban Ngajat tribal dance of Sarawak.
The Murut tribal dance from Sabah.
Performers having fun and enjoying their time.
The line dance wows the crowd.
A chair dance standing upright.
A freestyle hip-hop dance.
A breakdance with some cool moves.
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The dragon dance. x
The tiger dance.
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The lion dance.
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Welcome to 1 Malaysia: The performers standing together as one people show the 1 Malaysia sign.
Excitement and cheer from these two pretty maidens dressed in colourful traditional outfits and costumes.
The enthusiastic tourists dancing along with the performers during the finale where everyone is invited to dance along with the 5,500 performers doing the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia dance.
The night ended with performers waving goodbye. Many who were there were amazed by the diversity in culture and ethnic backgrounds of Malaysia and they would certainly return next year.
Largest Dikir Barat Performance:
A mega dikir barat performance by 5,500 people which made it into the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest performance ever.
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Confetti cannons blow colourful paper confetti into the sky and falling like snowflakes.
Colourful fireworks lit up the night sky above the Sultan Abdul Samad building. This photo credit to Ron Tsan who is a PSPJ member.
Honoured guests:
The King and Queen joined thousands of local and foreign tourists, invited guests, VIPs, cabinet ministers and others at the event to celebrate the launch parade of Colours of 1 Malaysia 2010 at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (His Majesty the King) Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin arrives at Dataran Merdeka for the launch of Colours of 1 Malaysia 2010 parade.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong (Her Majesty the Queen) Tuanku Nur Zahirah being led into the stage by Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen (right). On the left is the Queen's bodyguard.
Arrival of Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan (left).
Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen (left) and Deputy Tourism Minister Dato' Dr. James Dawos Mamit (centre) greeting Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie on his arrival.
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Special guest American celebrity lifestyle guru and television icon Martha Stewart (left) posing with Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen.
The King and Queen stand at attention during the playing of the national anthem Negaraku.
(From left) Culture and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Yang di-Pertuan Agong (His Majesty the King) Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Her Majesty the Queen) Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Tourism Minister Dato' Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen having a conversation with the King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Performers:
Some 3,000 students from schools in the Klang Valley performed at the event. They were in a jovial mood and clearly enjoyed themselves. Photos taken before the start of the mammoth parade.
Student participants from S.M.K. Convent Jalan Peel, Kuala Lumpur.
Student participants of SMK Batu 8, Puchong.
Student participants of SMK Seri Bintang Utara in Taman Shamelin, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Student participants of SMK Seksyen 1 Bandar Kinrara, Puchong.
Student participants of SMK Raja Ali in Taman Kok Lian, Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. x
Pretty maidens of SMK Raja Ali in Taman Kok Lian, Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.
Dancers from dance studio Asthana Arts located in The Annexe Central Market, Kuala Lumpur.
Dancers from dance studio Asthana Arts.
The Bhangra dancers performing to the delight of visitors at Dataran Merdeka.
Members of St John Ambulance Malaysia on duty during the Colours of 1 Malaysia 2010 launch parade.
The Police deploy the K9 unit with its sniffer dogs checking out the event venue areas before the start of the Colours of 1 Malaysia parade in Jalan Raja in front of Sultan Abdul Samad building and Dataran Merdeka.
The kind people at Nestle provided free cool Nescafe coffee drinks to visitors.
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