The Chinese Cultural Center in Pakistan and the Cultural Office of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan jointly launched a series of activities to celebrate the grand celebration of ‘Happy Chinese New Year 2024 – Year of the Dragon’ in Pakistan.
Taikonauts on China’s Tiangong Space Station wished the audience and the global Chinese community New Year greetings for the Year of the Dragon through a video message, officially kicking off the Happy Chinese New Year 2024 activities around the world.
The Chinese Cultural Center in Pakistan has launched a wide range of exciting online events such as cultural performances, exhibitions, documentaries on culture, art, tourism and more to showcase the rich Lunar Chinese New Year celebrations.
To celebrate Chinese New Year with the community, Chinese Cultural Center in Pakistan has partnered with China Window in Peshawar, Silk Road Cultural Center in Quetta and also famous restaurant MONAL group. In this regard, the MONAL restaurant would enable the locals of Islamabad to experience the joyous atmosphere of Chinese New Year.
Through this activity, Chinese nationals residing in Pakistan will have the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate Chinese New Year in Pakistan and help Pakistani citizens to participate in the festivities.
Chinese New Year also known as “Spring Festival” is the most important holiday of the year for the Chinese nation. It is an important occasion for families and friends to come together and celebrate the new year. The Chinese try to make this event as special as possible, often spending hours preparing food and decorations for the festival events.
Happy Chinese New Year is usually celebrated with loud talent shows, fireworks and the decoration of red color on everything, each of which comes with its own cultural symbolism. Behind the colorful idiosyncrasies is a season of renewal and welcoming the future, while also turning back to the roots of community, family bonding and self-reflection.
The Chinese Cultural Center in Pakistan will also launch other activities on various social media platforms.
Friends from Pakistan can visit our social media platforms including Facebook and Wechat to witness the festive celebration of 2024 Happy Chinese New Year.
At the Overseas Education College of Jiangsu University, Pakistani and other international students recently gathered for the school’s 2024 Spring Festival Party to commemorate the approaching Year of the Dragon.
Dumpling making, paper cutting, writing Spring Festival couplets and playing games such as jianzi, a Chinese sponge game and choosing chocolate candies with chopsticks were among the activities offered at the event, according to China Daily.
Sonia Najam, a 29-year-old Pakistani PhD student studying human resource management, believes that every task has a unique meaning.
Making dumplings, for example, symbolizes the cultural value of preparing and sharing food with loved ones, it means harmony and family ties. Chinese calligraphy, an ancient art form with deep cultural roots in China, and the value of good wishes are highlighted by writing Chinese characters on the Spring Festival couplets.
“Being part of the traditional activities and witnessing the excitement of the local community allowed me to understand the importance of family, togetherness and the cultural nuances of this festive season,” she said.
Family is highly valued in both Pakistani and Chinese cultures, but Najam said the specific rituals and traditions associated with the Spring Festival set Chinese celebrations apart in a way she had never seen before.
“I believe that each element contributes to the diverse tapestry of China’s heritage and offers insight into the country’s history and values,” she said.
China’s emphasis on family is something that Andre M. Vaca Lucero, an Ecuadorian doctoral student studying management, also finds appealing. She first came to China in 2009, completed a master’s program in northwest China’s Shaanxi province, and decided to return in 2022—this time as a married mother of a 5-year-old child.
Lucero noted that devotion to family was shared by Latin and Chinese cultures.
He thinks that the importance that cultures place on family relationships can help build international relationships.
When Fathiya Mohamed Said, a 24-year-old medical student from Tanzania, first arrived in China in 2018, she was already familiar with the Spring Festival. At that time, she always participated in Spring Festival events such as making dumplings with her Chinese friends.
However, this occasion was different. She emphasized the harmony and tolerance of cultural differences that these events fostered when she said, “I was able to participate alongside my fellow educators and students from different cultural backgrounds.” “What impressed me was the enthusiasm of the international students to learn about Chinese culture and the joy and engagement we all had as if it was part of our own culture.”
Said participated in the lucky draw of the festivities. She laughed, “Luck really was on my side.” “I won a beautiful key ring and I’m looking forward to using it as a key ring this year.”
She emphasized that these activities fostered empathy and respect for other cultures, as well as a deep appreciation of the diversity in the world.
“It serves as a platform to exchange stories, share experiences and create lasting memories together,” she said.
While the Chinese people embrace the Year of the Loong (Dragon), the Pakistani community based in Beijing enthusiastically participates in the Chinese New Year celebrations, showing the strong bond between China and Pakistan.
The streets of Beijing are decked out in red lanterns and festive decorations as locals and foreigners gather to ring in the Lunar New Year. Known for its rich cultural heritage and close ties with China, the Pakistani community actively participates in the festivities and adds its unique flavor to the traditional celebrations.
Shahid Afraz Khan, a Pakistani expert in Beijing, expressed his joy at being able to participate in the Chinese New Year celebrations.
He said: “This is my eighth Chinese New Year in Beijing and I am amazed by the warmth and inclusiveness of the celebrations. It is wonderful to witness the intermingling of traditional cultures during this festive season.”
The Pakistani embassy in Beijing is also decorated with lights and traditional lanterns ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, which began on February 10 as a goodwill gesture to the Chinese people.
