Singapore's First National Day Celebrations

The footage chronicles Singapore’s inaugural National Day Parade on 9 August 1966 at the historic Padang. It begins with government leaders—including President Yusof Ishak and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew—taking their places, followed by military and civil contingents marching through city streets. The ceremony also showcases cultural performances, notably lion and dragon dances, and a brief mobile column featuring fire trucks. A dazzling 90 minute fireworks display lights up the night, accompanied by a luminous sea dragon float parading along the waterfront. The weeklong celebrations include community events, school programmes, and public speeches, reflecting burgeoning national pride.