On 29 January 2017, the 5th annual Lunar New Year Festival, organised by CCAT, was held on the Parliament Lawns. The Academy was very privileged to once again be invited to perform the lion dance as part of the opening ceremony, and also had a stall sharing Asian arts and crafts, such as paper folding, Chinese name bookmarks, as well as giving children (and adults) a chance to try on the lion heads! The Vajra Yong Cheng Young Living Buddhas also gave a Dynamic Dhyana Dharani performance prior to the opening ceremony. Now in its 5th year, the festival provides an opportunity for the showcase of Asian cuisine, culture and customs. Featuring a variety of performances including dragon dance, lion dances, children’s dance, singing, Chinese musical instruments performances and pipe band showcase, kung fu demonstrations, and even a sushi eating competition, the day once again proved to be very successful, with record crowds flocking to the Parliament Lawns.
