GEORGE TOWN: Gone are the days when single women would wish to find and meet their “Mr Right” when throwing oranges into the sea, an age-old Chinese tradition on Chap Goh Meh.

       For three young women here, finding love is not their top priority at the moment. Instead, they seek good health and prosperity for themselves and their loved ones.

       Despite no longer following the ritual of hoping to find their true love, friends Rachel Ong, Cheryl Loo and Liz Ho still keep the Chap Goh Meh tradition alive by tossing mandarin oranges into the sea in Karpal Singh Drive.

       The women had fun among themselves while writing wishes like “No more Covid” on the oranges before tossing them during their own outing to celebrate the festival.

       Ong, 25, an assistant manager in a property company, said it is no longer her priority to wish for a good husband as there are currently more pressing matters in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “Instead, we are wishing for people to be safe and for those who have contracted Covid-19 to recover fast.

       “It is the 21st century and the entire environmental and health landscape has changed with people suffering from the pandemic.

       “I wished for the greater good of humanity and prosperity of all when I threw the oranges as I wanted everyone’s suffering to pass, especially in this present time,” said Ong when met with her friends yesterday.

       For Loo, 25, happiness comes above everything else and she wished for lasting joyous moments for everyone.

       “I am not wishing for a good husband but am more interested in ensuring that I am a good human being with impeccable values,” said Loo, an assistant sales and marketing manager.

       “Mental health is also a priority for me as the entire working environment has changed during the pandemic, resulting in an increase in stress levels.

       “Hence, I wish for people to be mentally and physically healthy.

       “I also made a wish to be surrounded by good people and that my words are matched by my deeds, always.”

       Ho, 30, a digital online business owner, wished for her company’s growth and expansion.

       “I wished for my company’s gradual growth every month for the next two years and also for the health and prosperity of my staff and loved ones.

       “We are surviving in a new norm, and I wished for everyone to adapt and to lead a stress-free and healthy life.

       “Times are more challenging and I wished that God would give everyone the strength to survive the economic and political uncertainty,” she added.

       Meanwhile, the Top@Komtar set up a wishing pot on its viewing deck in Komtar for diners to participate in the festivity.

       Diners were each given an orange and a pen to write their wishes before tossing them into the pot instead of the normal tradition of throwing it into the sea.

       Chap Goh Meh marks the end of the 15-day Chinese New Year festive season.

       It is often regarded as the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day.

       According to tradition, it is a day when single women would fling mandarin oranges into the sea or river in the hope of finding Mr Right.

       Several big-scale Chap Goh Meh celebrations were called off due to the spike in Covid-19 cases in Penang. Among them were the annual Chap Goh Mei procession by the State Chinese Penang Association and the Chap Goh Meh celebration by Penang Chinese Town Hall.