Celebration

Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa is literally a “Fasting Day of Celebration” is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. The celebration is after a month of fasting during month of Ramadhan in Islamic calendar. Muslims in Malaysia like other Muslims throughout the world. The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia is “Selamat Hari Raya” which means “Happy Eid” in Malay. Another greeting is “Maaf zahir dan batin” which translates loosely to “I seek forgiveness physically and spiritually”, for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others. Days before Hari Raya, during the Ramadhan, ten days before the celebration, Malays decorate their house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as pelita or panjut.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an important holiday in Malaysia. The festival proper begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called the Lantern festival. Chinese New Year’s Eve is known as Chu literally means “change” and xi means “Eve”. Chinese around the world travel home to have reunion dinners with their families on Chinese New Year’s eve.

Deepavali

Deepavali, also called Diwali or Divali, is a major Hindu festival that is very significant in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for humankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dÄ«pa (earthen lamp, as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival. Diwali is a colloquial name used in North India, while the festival is formally called Deepavali in South India as such. Hindus regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. For Hindus it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning of the year in some Hindu calendars. There are several beliefs regarding the origin of the holiday.

Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb). Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting. On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. The largest Thaipusam celebrations take place in Malaysia. The temple at the Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists all over the world.

The observance of the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec 25 is celebrated in Malaysia like everywhere else in the world; it is a time for family and friends; hope and rejoicing; love and understanding; and giving and forgiving.Urban areas like the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and the greater Klang Valley come alive during the Yuletide, with bright colorful lights and decorations perking up homes and business premises, providing a festive atmosphere. Shopping malls and hotels especially have become increasingly sophisticated in their decorations, trying to outdo the competition in their bid to attract shoppers and guests. In many ways however, Christmas in Malaysia is a public holiday and is still very much a religious affair. To prepare themselves spiritually, the Christian community here, who make up about 7% of the population, observe Advent, the four-week period prior to Christmas, with prayers, Bible-reading and for some, fasting.

Share This