Eurasians showcase their rich heritage at fiesta

A carnival air prevailed at the Eurasian Fiesta 2013 with good food, music and culture.

A crowd of several thousand feasted on mouth-watering Eurasian delicacies like devil curry, beef stew, mulligatawny, salted fish pineapple curry and more, whilst engaging in friendly chatter.

The event attracted a host of Eurasian bands and individual acts from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Perak, with the crowd being serenaded with evergreen numbers throughout Saturday night at the St Xavier’s Branch school in PulauTikus.

The event was among the highlights of the month-long George Town Festival 2013.

Also featured was a Blue Ribbon Eurasian Fiesta 2013 where 10 participants tried to impress the judges with their time-honoured family recipes.

There was also an enlightening photography exhibition documenting the community’s past, as well as the sale of various handicraft items.

Fiesta organiser James Rozells said that the event, themed “Journey of Discovery”, was aimed at honouring the Eurasian community’s rich heritage and the role they played in helping shape Penang’s history.

The Eurasians are descendants of marriages between locals and the Portuguese, English and Dutch who colonised Malaya at different points in history, as well as the Spanish, French, Germans and other Europeans who settled here.

“The event creates, stimulates and raises historical awareness. We’re excited and proud to be able to share our unique and distinct heritage with everyone,” said Rozells.

With busloads of Eurasians from other parts of the country making the journey to the fiesta, Rozells said he hoped to make the event the premier Eurasian celebration in the country