The wind of Chingay blew to Singapore in 1973. Today, it is associated with an explosion of colours and most of all, joyous noise of cymbals, drums and voices.

Many did not remember that Chingay was introduced as a substitute for a different kind of noise: firecrackers. In 1972, the government banned firecrackers after a fatal explosion in the Lunar New Year period killed two people. The ban, although necessary, disappointed many who felt that it dampened the festive spirit.