KOTA KINABALU: For the past 25 years, Restoran Salim, an Indian restaurant, has arranged for lion dance performances during Chinese New Year without fail.

This year, the restaurant located at Lintas Plaza even extended the lion dance performance to entertain its patrons of all ethnic groups, especially the Chinese.

The lion dance performance also included a “lions enjoy eating roti canai” session at the restaurant.

Besides lion dance performance, the restaurant also offered buffet free-of-charge for its patrons.

The four-hour lion dance performance from 8.30 pm to midnight attracted lots of patrons.

The restaurant owner Salim, his wife and children were dressed in red like the Chinese celebrating Lunar New Year.

Angpows were also distributed to patrons, friends and family members.

“Having lion dance performance on the second day of Chinese New Year has become a routine for Restaurant Salim.

“Many of my customers – Chinese and non-Chinese – are looking forward to the event.

“We do not need to inform the patrons beforehand. Many would turn up on the second day of Chinese New Year for the lion dance performance,” said Salim.

Besides lion dance performance, Salim said two additional performances were added this year – an all-women team performing bamboo lion dance, and snake dance.

Salim said he had decided to continue with the lion dance performance during Chinese New Year.