SEREMBAN: Close to 200 people celebrated lantern festival at a temple of the Lee Sam Road Cemetery on Sunday.

They were carrying the lanterns for a walkabout in drizzle, with landscaping works creating a festive mood for the celebration at the 100-year-old cemetery.

Organized by Lobak state assemblyman Chew Seh Yong and 17 local Chinese organizations, this is the second year the lantern festival is celebrated at the cemetery.

About 40 people turned up for last year’s event, and the number of participants has soared to 200 this year.

Chew said participants comprising young and old helped turn the cemetery into an auspicious place for cultural celebration.

The cemetery under the Wah Chai Association Seremban was given a facelift with landscaping works and it could even be turned into a tourist destination.

The landscaping works at the cemetery will continue to improve for future cultural events to be held there, Chew said.

Lee Shiuh Tong, secretary of Wah Chai Association Seremban, said the cemetery was established in 1903, the same year the association was founded.

The association managed a total of four Chinese cemeteries in Negeri Sembilan, as well as the NS Chinese Maternity Hospital, now known as CMH Specialist Hospital.

Lee said committee members were willing to work with the state government to turn the cemetery into a tourism spot.

Except for the Sendayan Chinese cemetery, three other cemeteries under the association are not generating income.

A group of volunteers are involved in the landscaping works at Lee Sam Road Chinese Cemetery.

Proceeds from Sendayan Chinese Cemetery would be used for landscaping works at three other cemeteries, he said.