GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of young people thronged the scenic Esplanade for the Chap Goh Mei celebration as maidens threw mandarin oranges into the sea with the aim of finding their soulmate.

The 15-day Chinese New Year ended last night with the traditional throwing of oranges for the ladies.

Friends Laureen Quah, 20, and Fiona Cheng, 30, were among the crowd.

Quah, a mass communications student at a private college, decided to join in the fun, but not so much as to look for a suitor.

"I am still young, there is no rush," she said.

For Cheng, being 30 and single is not a problem, though she admits to taking part in the event in the hope of meeting someone.

"I am doing this for fun but if I do meet a suitor, it is a bonus," she said.

In Petaling Jaya, Brian Lee, 25, was among the many hopeful men who were seen fishing oranges thrown in the lake in Taman Jaya.

"I am going to give this 'Janice' a call," he said as he held up an orange.

"I hope she is a cute and sweet girl. Maybe we could go out for coffee or a movie."

Lee said it was his second time at such an event and he hoped he would not have to come back next year.

"Maybe I might go steady with Janice by then!"

Project engineer Jocelyn Lam, 25, did not harbour much hope when she threw an orange with her name and telephone number written on it into the lake.

"I wrote 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' on it. I won't mind if no one picks it up. But if a nice man picks it up, then lucky me," said Lam.

In Johor Baru, revellers thronged the Johor Baru Ancient Temple to pray and give offerings to the deities.