Festivals in Malaysia
Malaysia is a country of multi-ethnic society practising multi-culturalism and multi-religion.
Each ethnic group practises its own religion and belief which means various festivals are celebrated throughout the year. These festivals are usually celebrated either nationwide or at state level. “Open house” concept is practised almost all the festivals, which means inviting relatives and friends to partake in the food and festivity occasion.
HARI RAYA PUASA :
Hari Raya Pausa is one such important festival. Hari Raya Pausa Festival is also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and is the most significant and meaningful celebration for Muslims. The celebration takes place to mark the end of Ramadhan or the fasting month. The day is also very significant since it includes two of the five tenets of Islam’s. These two include to fast during the month of Ramadhan and to also pay zakat fitrah or alms tax. Muslims celebrate the 10th month of the Muslim calendar, also the first month of Syawal with great enthusiasm. Muslims pay their alms tax by the eve of Hari Raya Pausa Festival which is then distributed to the poor. The day of Hari Raya Pausa Festival is celebrated by visiting the mosque first thing in the morning. After prayers, Muslims visit the grave to pay homage to the departed souls of loved ones. It is also the time forfamily reunions when people gather together and ask for forgiveness from family members. It is a custom of for all Muslims on this day to ask for pardon and this is done in order of family security. On this occasion most Muslims open their homes to well wishers as well as visit friends and relatives. The festive mood of Hari Raya Pausa can be felt by the lighting of lamps. The lamps are lighted from the 20th day of Ramadan, the night when Quran was sent down, right through the actual day of Hari Raya Pausa. All mosques, homes, government and commercial buildings are beautifully decorated to mark this significant day. The celebrations last for a month. However the first three days are celebrated with much pomp and grandeur. However, many Muslims open their houses for the entire month to welcome friends and relatives.
MOON CAKE FESTIVAL:
One festival in Malaysia that shouldn’t be missed is the Moon Cake Festival. Ironically, it is a Chinese Festival made popular by the thousands of Chinese immigrants in residence here. This festival, which takes place in August, September or October (there are no set dates for Muslim festivals, as they follow calculations from a lunar calendar) was started in the Mongolian dynasty of China.
It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth moon, and it is held to celebrate the end of the harvest season. This festival is also associated with paper lanterns, which lends the other name of the festival, the Lantern Festival. The Moon Cake Festival is celebrated with mooncakes, which are round and about the size of your palm. Flavors range from black bean paste to lotus paste to yellow bean paste, and they are traditionally given to elders to foster better relations.
CHINESE NEW YEAR:
Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to “catch up” with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.
The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year’s Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called “surrounding the stove” or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations. As a tradition, on the first few days of the firstlunar month, people would spend their time visiting relatives and friends.
DEEPAVALI:
A colorful festival that is celebrated by all Hindus worldwide is Deepavali, which is also known as thefestival of lights. This festival usually falls around late October and November. One important practice that the Hindus follow during the festival is to light oil lamps in their homes on Deepavali morning. By lighting the oil lamps, the Hindus are thanking the gods for the happiness, knowledge, peace and wealth that they have received. The Hindus consider Deepavali as one of the most important festivals to celebrate.
The Hindus usually awake early in the morning of Deepavali around 3am and the first ritual will be having an oil bath, which is an important feature of Deepavali. Hindus will be dressed in their new clothes on Deepavali. Most of the ladies would be clad in silk saris or Punjabi suits of various bright shades. Hindus particularly dislike dressing in black on that day, as they consider black an inauspicious color for the festival. Hindus would also pay their respects to the elderly and most families would go to the temple after having breakfast. This is also an important practice for them. The reason why they would be going to the temples is to pray to get happiness and prosperity on Deepavali. The houses would be decorated with oil lamps and children will play with firecrackers to celebrate the festival. On the first day, they would not go visiting but would stay at home to welcome the guests who visit them.
CHRISTMAS:
Celebrated by Christian on the 25th of December marking the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by non-christian in some other ways as well. It is a family gathering occassion starting with a midnight masson Christmas Eve followed by Christmas Day celebration the next day. Legend has it that the Santa Claus brings presents for people at night during the christmas eve. Exchange of gifts are popular. Roast turkey is a common and traditional dish.
WASAK DAY:
Celebrated around May by Buddhists which marks three momentous events in Buddha’s life - his birthday, enlightenment, and achievement of Nirvana. The celebration begins at dawn when devotees gathering at the temples to meditate on the Eight Precepts.
Donations, giving food to the needy, offerings of incense, joss sticks and prayers are carried out. The sutras are chanted in unison by monks in saffron robes. The celebration is highlighted by a candle procession.
HARI RAYA QURBAN:
Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer in any mosque. Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually sheep, but also camels, cows and goats) as a symbol of Ibrahim’s sacrifice. The sacrificed animals, called Uddyah also known as “al-qurb?ni”, have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. Generally, these must be at least a year old.
At the time of sacrifice, God’s name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication as Muhammad said. According to the Quran, the meat is divided into three shares, one share for the poor, one share for the relatives and neighbors and the last to keep to oneself. A large portion of the meat must be given towards the poor and hungry people so they can all join in the feast which is held on Eid al-Adha. The remainder is cooked for the family celebration meal in which relatives and friends are invited to share.
The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid al-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished person is left without sacrificial food during these days.
- You can find a local flower shop or florist anywhere in the world.
