Keeping up with the theme of culture, nature and future, the Citrawarna 2015 festival brings Dataran Merdeka to life with the best of Malaysian tourism and cultural elements. It is without fail that this festival, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, draws the locals and tourists closer to celebrate Malaysia as a melting pot of culture. Already in its 16th installment, this year’s festival is helmed by the award-winning producer and actress, Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina. With a name that needs no introduction, you can’t help but expect a brilliantly-put show.
Starting with a soulful rendition of the national anthem by the students of Enfinity Academy, it sent shivers down my spine. It was heartfelt—it gave me a sense of pride. Citrawarna 2015 was also not short of performances by local artists, an avant-garde fashion show by Malaysia’s famed designers and the acclaimed homegrown musical adaptation of MUD The Musical.
The production is set against historical events in KL— it was so colourful, vibrant and diverse and captured the essence of Malaysia’s past and present. As anticipated, the show delivers theatrical elements while still integrating an exciting storytelling aspect, where nothing is random.
Beautifully set up against the backdrop of the iconic Dataran Merdeka, it was not hard to navigate the festival grounds. It consists of areas such as the stage, MyFEST Chillax Zone and a jaw-dropping stretch of food truck called #KLFTF (Kuala Lumpur Food Truck Fest) that can go no wrong. Festival goers were spoiled with many choices of food and drinks but my personal favourite was the coconut shake given the refreshing taste on a balmy day. Adjacent to #KLFTF is the colourful lit up trishaws that were also a major crowd puller, which brings us to understanding the preserved heritage still has its identity intact no matter how fast-forward we are today.
A great number of people showed up and the show went on seamlessly. Tourists, families, groups of friends came and experienced the diverse show and flavours of Malaysia. I personally think that was the whole point of Citrawarna and Tourism Malaysia succeeded in bridging the culture gap at a ceremoniously held event. I look forward to the upcoming Citrawarna in 2016!