|
|
The country’s multi-racial and multi-cultural society
presents a kaleidoscope showcase of cultural and religious festivities all year
round. Beginning with the Chinese New Year celebrations in January-February,
there are plenty of events and festivities as the year progress before
culminating with the year-end countdown in December. |
|
|
Hari Raya Aidilfitri Celebration |
|
|
 |
|
Ramadhan is the holy month for all Muslims in Malaysia
as well as around the world before the celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Throughout this holy month, all Muslims practise abstinence by fasting (puasa)
from dawn till dusk. During this period, food stalls are in abundance in towns
and residential areas selling a vast variety of Malay snacks and sweetmeats.
Some of the more popular buka puasa (breaking fast) places in KL are
Jalan Masjid India, Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Raja Alang where one
will find rows and rows of stalls selling foodstuffs and festive offerings. In
the recent years,
|
hotels and restaurants also joined the bandwagon in offering sumptuous spreads
and buffets that are gaining much popularity among Muslims and non-Muslims. |
|
|
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated on the first day of
Syawal after the fasting month. Marked by a mass exodus of city folks and
families returning to their hometowns to celebrate the festivity with loved
ones. The preparations for the celebration month actually start on the 20th day
of Ramadhan where families would start house cleaning, make special delicacies
and cakes. On the morning of the actual day, adults pray at local mosques and
children ask forgiveness from their parents. The first two days of this
festivity are public holidays. |
|
|
Hari Raya Aidiladha |
|
|
Also known as Hari Raya Haji, this day falls on
the last month of the Muslim calendar and is significant to Hajis and Hajjahs -
Muslim men and women who have performed pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca as
well as those who are making the trip for the first time. On this day, sheep
and cattle are sacrificed with their meat distributed to the poor; hence it is
also called Hari Raya Korban (korban means sacrifice). |
|
|
Chinese New Year Celebration |
|
|
 |
|
This is a significant festival for the
Chinese in this country and throughout the world. In conjunction with this
festival that starts on the first day to the fifth day of the first Chinese
lunar month, a two-day holiday is observed. The New Year is ushered in by
spring cleaning and repainting the house. Symbolic items and decors in gold,
red and yellow are put up with calligraphic banners bearing auspicious wishes
or sayings. This observance is extended to the festive dishes served during
lunch and dinner that have auspicious names such as black moss (fatt choy
which means to prosper), oysters (hou see which means good things and
abalone / fish (yue which means there’s always good fortune / not empty
or finished). |
|
|
Things such as knives and brooms that are considered as inauspicious are kept
out of sight on the first day.It is a practiced custom that on the first day of
this festivity, parents and grandparents give ang pow (which means red
packet that is filled with money) to their children and the young and
unmarried.
|
|
|
During the 15-day festive period, visits are made among
extended families and friends and gifts of foodstuffs and mandarin oranges (kum
which sounds like gold) are exchanged. Chinese restaurants are thronged with
families and business associates for Lo Sang, a dish of colourful dried
shredded vegetables, fruits and nuts with some thinly sliced fish, sesame
seeds, oil and sweet sour sauce.
|
|
|
The partaking of this yue sang (raw fish) started
among business people to mark the new year. The ingredients on the platter
would be mixed and tossed and while doing that auspicious and hopes would be
uttered in hope that their businesses and families would be blessed. In recent
years Lo Sang lunch and dinner have become a great hit among Malaysians and
many creative versions have been introduced, including vegetarian versions. For
the Hokkiens (as Chinese are made up of various dialect-speaking groups), who
are predominantly in Penang and Johor, the 9th day is more significant and is
celebrated with prayers at the stroke of midnight on the eve. Chap Goh Meh
(15th night), also the Chinese Valentine’s Day, marks the end of the
celebration. Single women and men, who would respectively throw oranges and
apples into the sea while wishing for a suitor, observe this.
|
|
|
Pongal |
|
|
The four days of Pongal have there own individual
significance. Held in the middle of January, Pongal continues through the first
four days of Thai month that starts in the mid-January. The word Pongal
literally means, "boiling over" and is celebrated by Hindus to mark the
harvesting of the bounteous crops in the fields. |
|
|
Thaipusam Celebration |
|
|
 |
|
One of the most vibrant religious festivals
in the country, this special day is celebrated in honour of the Hindu deity,
Lord Muruga. Falls normally between January 15th to February 15th, it is also a
day for the atonement of sins and thanksgiving for blessings received.
Followers have their heads shaven and some carry kavadis – structures made from
wood or metal and fitted with hooks and spikes piercing the trance-induced
bearers’ torso, mouth or back.
In KL, this exciting celebration involves a procession from the Sri
Mahamariamman Temple in the city center to Batu Caves, the limestone temple
with 272 steps and also one of the country’s tourist attractions. The 15m and
eight- hour journey begins in the late afternoon on the eve of Thaipusam and
upon reaching Batu Caves, kavadi-bearers climb the 272 steps up to the shrine.
The route for the procession would be closed to traffic as spectators line all
the way to its colourful destination. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vasakhi |
|
|
 |
|
This is the New Year celebration by the
Sikhs in commemoration with the creation of the Khalsa Order in 1669, bestowing
their unique surnames – Singh for the men and Kaur for the women. On this day
that normally falls in April, the Sikh community would have prayers a home and
in temples, consume vegetarian meals and welcome friends and visitors. |
|
|
|
Wesak Day |
|
|
 |
|
This day is the commemoration of the birth,
enlightenment and death of the founder of Buddhism teaching – Gautama Buddha.
Falls in the month of May, followers would hold temple prayers, offering alms
to monks, freeing caged birds or pigeons, taking part in the evening
candlelight procession and abstain from taking meat for the whole day. These
rites and the abstinence from taking meat symbolizes peace and kindness to
animals, hence holds a special meaning for Buddhists and non-believers alike. |
|
|
|
National Water Festival |
|
|
Held for an entire month, this annual festival, known by
the locals as Pesta Air sees various aquatic activities held at
different states, at lakes and seaside in the country. These include dragon
boat races, fishing competitions and kayaking. Putrajaya, the new federal
administrative center is now the focal point with added attractions of boat
cruises and speedboat racing.
|
|
|
Malaysia Mega Sale |
|
|
 |
|
Takes place between end of July to early
September, this shopping carnival aims to promote locally produced goods and to
attract foreign shoppers and tourists with unbelievable discounts offered by
retail outlets throughout the country. |
|
|
|
Fifth Moon Festival |
|
|
 |
|
Chinese communities, living especially in
coastal and river areas, observe the fifth moon of the lunar calendar with rice
dumplings and dragon boat races.Known as the Patriotic Poet’s Festival, it
honours the statesman-scholar Qu Yuan, who in 278 BC drowned himself to protest
corruption within the government. As a former minister, he was banished through
political intrigue. He wrote two famous odes before jumping into the water.
Legend says the fishermen tried to save him to no avail. To prevent fishes from
devouring his body, rice were thrown in to feed them. This ritual is held every
fifth day of the fifth moon in remembrance of the scholar.
|
|
|
|
Kaul |
|
|
 |
|
Celebrated in May by the Kadazan, Murut and
Dusun communities in Sabah, this harvest festival is The Melanau festival, or
'Kaul', appeasing the spirits of the sea, land, forests and farm is celebrated
at the end of the rainy season and the start of the fishing season in late
March or early April. The festival is celebrated on different days in the many
Melanau settlements along the coast. |
|
| |
Tadau Kaamatan |
|
| |
Celebrated in May by the Kadazan, Murut and Dusun
communities in Sabah, this harvest festival is celebrated with the Magavau
ceremony performed by high priests or priestesses in honour of the rice spirit,
Bambaazon. Celebrants garbed in their tribal costumes would feast and drink
homemade tapai, a rice wine with a host of activities, cultural
performances and competitions in line including the Harvest Queen beauty
pageant. |
|
| |
Gawai Dayak & Borneo Cultural Festival |
|
| |
This is a festival celebrated by the Iban community in
Sarawak on June 1st and 2nd to mark the end of the harvest season. There would
be dancing, feasting and toasting with tuak, a rice wine and offering of
prayers for the next farming season. |
|
|
|
Festa de San Juang and Festa de San Pedro |
|
|
 |
|
The Portuguese community in Malacca from
June 24th to 29 celebrates these two festivals. The Feast of Saint John the
Baptist is observed by folks wearing green outfits and lighting their homes
with candles in the evening. The Feast of Saint Peter, the patron saint of
fishermen is commemorated with the public and tourists’ participation in events
such as boat decorations, cultural performances and float procession as well as
partaking of Portuguese cuisine and culinary delights. |
|
|
|
Colours of Malaysia |
|
|
 |
|
This carnival is held in the middle of the
year to showcase the country’s rich multifarious culture and arts. Known as
Warna-Warna Malaysia and Citrawarna Malaysia, it is organised by the tourism
Ministry of Malaysia and is held on a nationwide scale. During this carnival,
various hotels in the country promote different cuisine of respective states.
Launched with extravagant show, dazzling dances and mesmerising music and
costumes, it is truly a sight to behold. |
|
|
|
Merdeka Day |
|
|
 |
|
Commemorating the country’s independence from colonial
rule, Malaysia’s National day is celebrated annually on August 31st. The
highlight of this day is the massive march past attended by the King and
Cabinet Ministers witnessed by the Malaysian public, foreign dignitaries and
tourists. Previously the national parade was held at Dataran Merdeka, the very
place independence was declared, it is now held at the new federal
administrative centre in Putrajaya. The staging of the celebration will be
alternated with other state capitals each year on a rotating basis. |
|
|
|
Hungry Ghost Festival |
|
|
On this day it is believed that the "Gates of Hell" are
opened and that the dead return to visit their living relatives. The Chinese
feel that they have to appease the imprisoned and hungry ghosts in order to get
good fortune and luck. The festival is currently celebrated with ceremonies at
homes, temples, associations, and guilds. Prayers are offered to the dead and
offerings of food such as chicken, vegetables, fruits, bean curd and white rice
are placed at street corners and roadsides to appease the spirits. This is
believed to prevent the wandering spirits from entering their homes and causing
disturbances in their households. Offerings are also made by burning replica
money notes, known also as ‘hell money’. Some families also burn paper houses,
cars and even paper television or radio sets to give to their dead relatives.
The Chinese feel that these offerings reach the ghosts and help them live
comfortably in their world. |
|
|
Mooncake / Lantern / Mid Autumn Festival |
|
|
 |
|
Based and inspired by two separate Chinese
legends – Lady in the Moon and the Hans Uprising against the Mongols, this day
falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The
celebration is marked by the partaking of mooncakes – round cakes,
traditionally made with sweet lotus paste or red bean paste fillings, with or
without salted egg yolks and houses brightly lit with beautiful and colourful
lanterns.
Now mooncakes takes on a vast variety such as snow skin mooncakes, ice cream
mooncakes, jelly mooncakes with various flavours and colours. They are
available with attractive and aesthetic designs and packaging in almost all
restaurants, stores and shopping malls weeks before the actual celebration.
Lanterns in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours are also seen decked up for
sale in shops and shopping malls. Shopping malls would have lantern-making
competitions in celebration of this lively festival with ingenious creations
much to the admiration of the locals and visitors alike.
On the night of the celebration, families and friends would gather for a
mooncake feast in their lantern-festooned homes while admiring and appreciating
the beauty of the moon, said to be at its brightest.
|
|
|
|
Nine Emperor Gods Festival |
|
|
 |
|
The festival is celebrated over the first
nine days of the ninth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. Devotees flock to
the temples throughout the country for this religious festival. On the eve of
the ninth moon, temples of the Deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome
the ‘Jien Hwang Yeh’. Since the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods is believed to
be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the seashores or
river to symbolise this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying
joss sticks and candles; await the arrival of their “Excellencies”. |
|
|
|
A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple
throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant
chiming of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most
devotees stay at the temple, take vegetarian meals and recite continuous
chanting of prayers. A procession to send the Nine Emperor Gods home then takes
place to complete the rites of this religious festival. |
|
|
Deepavali Celebration |
|
|
 |
|
Falls on the 14th day of the Apasi month on
the Tamil calendar, this day is also known as the Festival of Lights. It
commemorates the triumph of good over evil when the evil King Narakasura was
slain by Lord Krishnan. It is also celebrated to mark the return of the exiled
Rama.
Hindus start the day with a ritual oil bath followed by prayers at the temple.
Homes would be decked up with rows of lights while doorways are decorated with kolam,
an intricate floral design, done by hand with colourful rice grains. The kolam
concept has taken on a bigger scale as restaurants, hotels and shopping malls
are now seen with these beautiful creative designs at the entrances during this
festival. |
|
|
|
Christmas Celebration |
|
|
 |
|
While it holds a significant and religious
meaning for the Christians and Catholics in this country, it is one of the most
eagerly anticipated celebrations for Malaysians for its alluring atmosphere.
Each year in December, hotels, restaurants and especially shopping malls are
adorned with breathtaking and enchanting Yuletide decorations and effects that
captivate Malaysians of all ages and backgrounds.
While the Christians and Catholics observe the traditions with Thanksgiving
dinners, church masses / celebrations, their non-believer friends bask in joy
of the celebration and visiting open houses. Others go for their shares of
stuffed turkeys, pudding, Christmas cookies and cakes at hotels and
restaurants. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
