30,000 celebrate lunar festival

The Vietnamese Au Co Dance Group. 172731 Pictures: ROB CAREW

More than 30,000 people celebrated South East Asia at Dandenong Market on Sunday 8 October.
The Full Moon Festival was expected to attract about 27,000 people but the crowd reached 31,526.
The event celebrated the brightest and fullest moon, a traditional Chinese custom that symbolises peace, prosperity and family reunion.
Entertainment included lion dancing, Melbourne’s largest and longest Hong Kong-style performing dragon, Chinese opera and more.
The festival also featured demonstrations and workshops from Melbourne’s first traditional kung fu school Jow Ga Kuen, and breakdance crew Kings Only BBoy.
Sixteen food trucks bearing South East Asian street food also rolled in for the day.
The Mandarin Grocer sold mooncakes at the festival.
The sweet treats were a traditional sacrifice to thank the moon for good crops and a successful harvest.