Southampton celebrates Lunar New Year with Lantern Festival

Hundreds of people flocked to Westquay on Saturday to mark the fifteenth day of the Year of the Dragon during Lunar New Year celebrations.

Organised by UK Shaolin, revellers enjoyed a variety of activities and a traditional dragon dance in the heart of the shopping centre.

Martine Niven, event manager, said the community has come together to celebrate the occasion.

The UK Shaolin team in Westquay (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “It is a wonderful time for people to come together. We have been running this for the past seven years.

“The Year of the Dragon symbolises new beginnings, strength, power, growth, and coming together for the community.

“It’s all about uniting people.

“We started the Chinese New Year earlier this month starting at the head, and today we have reached the tail of the dragon.”

She added: “Holding events like this makes the occasion accessible to different diverse groups.

“Plus, we have people here today who have travelled from Birmingham for the event because what we do in Southampton is so spectacular.”

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Volunteer at UK Shaolin, Alice Heath highlighted the importance of the event bringing the people of Southampton together.

She said: “It’s really great fun to volunteer for this event for a diverse community and to bring people together like this.

“We are engaging with people in Southampton which UK Shaolin has been doing for years.”

Celebrations also took place up the road in Eastleigh where people enjoyed a dazzling parade.

The high street was treated to a blaze of red and gold as the event unfolded.

Michael Ng, Chairperson of the Chinese Association of Southampton, attended the event.

He said: “The Lantern Festival holds a special place in our hearts. It is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate love, unity, and the beauty of our cultural heritage.

“Here in Eastleigh and Hampshire, our Chinese community is vibrant and thriving.

“We are proud to contribute to the rich tapestry of diversity that makes our community so special.

“May this festival bring us closer, strengthening the ties that bind us as a community. May it inspire us to embrace our shared values of love, compassion, and understanding.”