Thousands gather in Johor, Malaysia, for the colourful Chingay parade, featuring giant flag bearers, lion dances and other traditional performances. The annual event is held to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Malaysia and Singapore are jointly nominating the parade for inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Chingay is a long-standing tradition in Southeast Asian cities with large ethnic Chinese communities. It began in Penang in 1919 as a Chinese religious celebration before spreading to Johor Bahru and Singapore, each adding unique elements. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES