- Title: Malaysian capital's Chinatown glows with zodiac displays for Year of the Horse
- Date: 14th February 2026
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (JANUARY 31, 2025) (REUTERS) MAN WAVING A CONTEMPORARY DRAGON DANCE RIBBON, TROUPES CARRYING INFLATABLE HORSE PUPPET LANTERNS DURING LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION PARADE AT KWAI CHAI HONG, AN ALLEYWAY IN CHINATOWN HORSE PUPPET LANTERNS MOVING THROUGH CROWD DURING PARADE TROUPE PLAYING DRUM AND CYMBALS VARIOUS OF PARADE MOVING ON STREET (NIGHT SHOT) INFL
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- Keywords: CELEBRATION CHINESE NEW YEAR CLOTH TIGER Chinatown KL KUALA LUMPUR KWAI CHAI HONG LUNAR NEW YEAR MALAYSIA TRADITION Year of the Horse horse lanterns
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001416310022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colourful inflatable horse puppet lanterns paraded through the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, as an accompanying troupe of drums and gongs rang in the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities.
The parade, which echoed through Kwai Chai Hong, a heritage alleyway in Kuala Lumpur, began with an outdoor art installation of glowing lanterns shaped like horses and other animals of the Chinese zodiac, created by artist Javier Chor.
The art display also features sculptures of the 12 zodiac guardians, led by a seven-foot-tall horse figure.
Chor, who created the concept for the installation, said the artwork draws inspiration from the cloth tiger—a traditional toy figurine stitched by parents or grandparents and gifted to children as a symbol of protection that also carries wishes of safety, courage, wisdom and good health.
"In the olden days, parents wouldn't say 'I love you' verbally. So they will use something (the cloth tiger) to represent and (hoping that it would) protect you," he said with a broad smile and a cloth tiger figurine in hand.
"So all these things, only when I grow older, that's when I notice that it's something that Asian families will do."
Chor added that the installation aims to broaden the Lunar New Year message beyond prosperity to focus on family bonds and love expressed through gestures rather than words, saying it was important to appreciate that affection could also be shown through actions.
"I try to share with everyone, (to help them) to know the culture behind this, every motive and the gesture of the parents," Chor said. "So for me, I want them to know the message that we want to deliver is not just (financial) prosperity."
Malaysia's Chinese community will celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 17, a day before the holy month of Ramadan begins for the Muslim-majority nation.
(Production: Ahmad Luqman Ismail, Mandy Leong Huey Mun) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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