|
| |
Festivals & Celebrations
Kuala Lumpur Insights
With a blend of races, religions and culture, Kuala Lumpur celebrates all its
peoples festivals. A unique feature of if the celebrations is the concept of
open house where friends of other races and communities are invited to join in
the merry making and enjoy the festive treats. Also included are festivals that
are not celebrated in the city but is within reach of the visitor so as to
witness them, such as the Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves and the San Pedro
Fiesta in Melaka.
During these festivals, it is the norm of the major political parties and
ministers to have open house at their residences or set in various locations,
where all are invited to eat, drink and celebrate the occasion together in
racial harmony.
During the festival dates, especially during the Hari Raya and the Chinese New
Year celebrations, the city 'empties out; as its residents take the opportunity
to "balik kampung" or return to their hometowns and kampungs, (villages) or go
holiday. This is especially so if the dates fall before or after a weekend.
During these long weekends holidays as it is called, the city, literally goes on
a holiday mood with markedly reduced traffic and people on its roads.
 Pongal
Held in the middle of January, Pongal continues through the first four days of
Hindu 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.
The houses are cleaned, painted and decorated and Kolam's (ground patterns made
out of rice flour) are made in the front yards of the houses. Sweet rice is
cooked in a new earthenware pot at the same place where puja (prayers) is to be
performed. Fresh turmeric and ginger are tied around this pot. Then a delicious
concoction of rice, moong dal, jaggery and milk is boiled in the pot on an open
fire.
This, according to ritual, is allowed to boil and spill out (pongal) of the pot.
Once ready, it is tempered with cashew nuts and raisins
fried in ghee. Pongal, once ready, is offered to the Gods, on a banana leaf
along with other traditional delicacies like vadas, payasam, etc. Besides this,
sugarcane, grain, sweet potatoes etc. are also offered to the Sun God.
FESTIVAL DATE - 15 JAN 2009
 Thaipusam
The manifestation of the festival is best witnessed at Batu Caves, which is 10km
from the city center. Thaipusam celebrates the day Goddess Parvati bestowed upon
her son the “vel” or lance to vanquish the evil demon, Soorapadam. This lance
denotes spiritual insight, ability to differentiate right from wrong,
righteousness and steadfastness. However, for many Hindus, Thaipusam has come to
mean the birthday of Lord Subramaniam, also known as lord Muruga, the younger
son of Lord Shiva.
In K. Lumpur, it culminates in a three-day festival which begins from Sri
Mahamariaman Temple at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in Chinatown and ends at Batu Caves.
In the wee hours of the morning, the Idols Lord Muruga’s together with those of
his two consorts Valli and Deivayani representing the spiritual and worldly
energies (shakti), is placed on a five-tonne silver chariot and is pulled by two
bulls and hundred of devotees on its 15 km journey from Chinatown to Batu Caves.
At Batu Caves, devotees carry offerings and climb the 272 steps to the main cave
to seek forgiveness for past deeds or to thank Lord Muruga for wishes granted.
Some devotees carry the Kavadi, a wooden arch with two pots of or honey at its
end, decorated with peacock feathers. Even though the bearing a simple pot of
milk up to the shrine is all that is required, however these forms of offerings
are overshadowed by more elaborate kavadis with huge metal frames and bedecked
with decorations. Devotees with skewers protruding through the cheeks and metal
hooks and spikes on their bodies are also to be seen.
Note - If you plan to be here on the festival dates please email us if you wish
a personal tour of the festival
FESTIVAL DATE - 08 FEB 2009
 Chinese
New Year
Celebrated by the Chinese community throughout the world, it is no different in
Kuala Lumpur. With lion dance troupes appearing at various locations to bring
happiness and luck and to scare the bad spirits away, the festivities here is
celebrated for 3 days by the busy urban Chinese workers, but as a whole, is
celebrated for 15 days. On the Eve of the New Year, all family members,
including those away from home, are expected to gather for the annual reunion
dinner. The first day of the New Year is usually spent visiting close family
members and relatives. It is the practice of elders and married couples to give
children and the unmarried ang pow – little red packets containing ‘lucky
money’. This act is supposed to bestow good luck on both the giver and the
recipient. As is the Malaysian Way, the Chinese here often hold “Open House’,
where other races attend and offer greetings or Gong Xi Fa Chai’ and Chinese
delicacies and drinks are served with red angpows are given to the children.
According to tradition, the God of Wealth is welcomed into the household on the
fifth day so as to ensure good fortune all year round. The seventh day, said to
be the day mankind was created, is deemed “Everyone’s Birthday”. In Kuala
Lumpur, the mainly Cantonese, observe this ‘raw and fresh creation’ by eating
raw fish salad called yue sang.
FESTIVAL DATE - 26 & 27 JAN 2009
 Fiesta
San Pedro
This week long celebration is filled with colour, pomp, gaiety and fun for the
Portuguese-Eurasian community of Malacca, to commemorate the feast of St. Peter
which is the patron saint of fishermen
Visitors and foreign tourists come to join the 3,000-odd residents in songs,
dances, fun fairs, game stalls, the decorated boat festival and the solemn
procession of the statue of St. Peter. The annual fiesta, from June 23, has been
held since the settlement’s founding in the l930s.
FESTIVAL DATE - 23 JUN to 29 JUL 2009
 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
satisfy the imprisoned and hungry ghosts in order to get good fortune and luck
in their lives. 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. Offerings are also made
by burning replica money notes, which are also known as ‘hell money’. This is
believed to prevent the wandering spirits from entering their homes and causing
disturbances in their households.
FESTIVAL DATE - 14 AUG 2008
 Mooncake
/ Mid Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival falls on the 15th day of the Chinese eighth
month and is celebrated to signify the end of the harvest season. In Kuala
Lumpur, the Chinese celebrate the festival with family gatherings, prayers,
mooncakes and lantern parades by children. Weeks before the festival, Chinese
families present gifts of mooncakes to friends and senior relatives to foster
better ties with them. On the 15th night when the moon is shining its brightest,
offerings of mooncakes, deep fried chicken, roasted pork, water caltrops, yam,
melon seeds and Chinese tea are made to deities and ancestors, on the praying
altar. After prayers, there is feasting and merry-making with children carrying
lighted lanterns around the neighbourhood. As early as one month before the
event, Chinese restaurants in the country’s major towns sell mooncakes. To the
Chinese, the round shape of mooncakes symbolises family unity. Each mooncake is
about the size of a human palm. Among the popular varieties are the black bean
paste (tou-sha), brownish lotus paste (lien-yung) yellow bean paste (tou-yung).
Usually the paste contains the yolk of a preserved duck’s egg to enhance the
flavour.
FESTIVAL DATE - 02 SEP 2009
Hari Raya Puasa
The most significant celebration for Muslims, it signifies the end of the
fasting month of Ramadan. The words ‘Hari Raya’ means day of celebration.
Muslims starts the day by wearing new ‘Baju Melayu’ (Malay dress attire) and
congregating in the mosques early in the morning to perform their prayers
followed by visiting the graves of the departed. The young will ask for
forgiveness from their elders and have open house for relatives and friends to
come to their house.
Houses are thoroughly cleaned and decorated, and lighting of oil lamps welcomes
the angels which are believed to be visiting the earth during the seven days
preceding the festival. Most of the celebration is concentrated in the first
three days if the festival. Visiting Muslim homes on Hari Raya Puasa, you can
expect to taste a wide variety of delicious cookies and spicy dishes. Some
favorite dishes served on this special occasion are ketupat, lontong, nasi
padang and beef rendang.
FESTIVAL DATE - 21 & 22 SEP 2009
 Deepavali
Deepavali is also known as Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, it is celebrated
as the day the evil Narakasura was slain by Lord Krishna, tThe triumph of light
over darkness and good over evil. Normally on Deepavali eve, Padayai or
offerings and prayers are made to ancestors and deceased family members. After
this ceremony, the women are busy in the kitchen while the rest of the family do
the house by hanging new curtains, placing new settee covers and the like to
welcome Laxmi, the goddess of prosperity. Getting up early before sunrise, oil
is applied a ritual oil bath is taken.
Then food is prepared and served as the fiends and guests come by. A great
opportunity to dig in on some delicious Indian curry and cookies, here again,
the concept of open house is seen and an intermingling of friends of different
races come by to greet a Happy Deepavali.
FESTIVAL DATE - 17 OCT 2009
 Christmas
Christmas celebrations here in Kuala Lumpur are a little different from the rest
of the world. Since we live in a multi cultural country with no snow. All
Malaysians tend to celebrate all festive seasons visiting friends and families
in their homes during the festive season.
Shopping malls put up their decorations and lights and Christians put their
Christmas trees up one to two weeks before Christmas. As with everywhere,
Christmas preparations are done up to the last minute of December 24th. On
Christmas Eve, Christians dress up in their new clothes and go to church for
midnight services. Before mass begins they normally have sketches or plays by
the children and Christmas caroling. After services, everyone wishes each other
"Merry Christmas". Some go home, while others go party elsewhere. On Christmas
day, families have a feast and this is the time when friends of all faiths make
their rounds to wish Merry Christmas. Some visitors bring presents and gifts.
The children laugh with joy as they receive gifts and money in a modified
version of 'ang-pow' from friends and relatives.
FESTIVAL DATE - 25 DEC 2009
KUALA LUMPUR ~ INSIGHTS & GUIDE
History / People & Culture /
Festivals & Celebrations /
Shopping / Nightlife /
Food / Events
|
