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As the footsteps of the Lunar New Year resound across the Lingnan land, the Chaoshan-Hakka Alliance’s New Year Welcome Banquet arrives as scheduled. This is far more than a casual gathering: it is a cultural resonance that transcends geographical boundaries, and a soulful embrace that forges deep bonds of camaraderie.

Immersed in the moment, we hear the familiar interwoven hometown accents in our ears, taste the authentic flavors of home on our tongues, and see the warm, glowing smiles of reunion before our eyes. For every son and daughter of Chaoshan and Hakka living far from their hometown, this is where they find a profound sense of belonging and peace of mind.

The moment we stepped into the venue, we were instantly enveloped by the immersive festive atmosphere of the banquet. The vivid patterns of Chaozhou embroidery and the iconic circular enclosure imagery of the Hakka Tulou created a delightful contrast and perfect harmony. At the sign-in area, Chaozhou Gongfu tea setups stood side by side with Hakka Lei tea mortars. Amid the wispy fragrance of tea, greetings of "Happy New Year" in the Teochew dialect and "Wishing you great prosperity" in the Hakka dialect rose one after another, instantly melting away all awkwardness and distance between guests.

On the dining tables, the red-and-gold tableware was engraved with the words "Chaoshan and Hakka are one family". The central floral arrangements featured branches and leaves of Fenghuang Dancong tea paired with litsea cubeba. Every single detail spoke volumes of the shared roots and harmonious coexistence of the two cultures. This deep, ingrained cultural immersion made me suddenly realize that the meaning of ga gi nang (the Teochew endearment for "our own people") goes far beyond recognition of the same dialect—it is the mutual guardianship of our shared cultural roots.

The laughter and cheer throughout the banquet formed the most heartwarming melody. During the dialect word chain game, we moved from the Teochew pronunciation of "spring" to the Hakka pronunciation of the same character, from "blessing" to "joy". The playful collision of words from the same etymological root drew rounds of thunderous applause across the hall. When the Yingge Dance performance took the stage, the powerful, vigorous dance moves paired with the resounding beat of gongs and drums instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience. Known as "China's Warrior Dance", this intangible cultural heritage art form glowed with fresh, trendy vitality through the performance of the young dancers.

The Chaozhou embroidery bookmarks and Lei tea gift boxes from the lucky draw, the knowing smiles shared during interactions, and the sincere blessings exchanged over clinking glasses, helped strangers grow familiar with one another, and deepened the bonds between old friends. In the chairman's speech, the line "We share the same roots, walk in unison with one heart, and this is the most precious treasure of the Alliance" struck a chord with everyone present. Here, we are not just fellow townspeople, but family who support one another through thick and thin.

The banquet drew to a close with the shutter clicks of the group photo. The crowd dispersed, but the bonds of friendship and warmth remained unbroken. Looking back on this gathering, what I felt was not only the joy of the new year, but also the profound power of cultural inheritance. Chaoshan and Hakka culture is like a winding long river, carrying thousands of years of wisdom and sentiments, while the Alliance is the bridge connecting its two banks, enabling traditions to thrive and endure through integration. Those familiar hometown accents, the festive spirit of the new year, and the bright smiling faces will all become the most precious memories for the coming year, sustaining us as we keep moving forward on our journey to pursue our dreams.

In the new year, may we carry forward the warmth and strength we gained at this banquet, along with the resilience and pioneering spirit of Chaoshan and Hakka people, and continue to walk hand in hand. We believe that no matter how far we go, the Chaoshan-Hakka Alliance will always be our spiritual harbor, and this friendship of shared roots and coexistence will only grow richer and deeper with time. 2026, may Chaoshan and Hakka stand united as one, may every endeavor be blessed with smooth success. Let us gather again next year, to share more stories of reunion and joy.