Thaipusam (Batu
Caves)
(Kuala Lumpur) The festival begins with a procession of a silver chariot containing the
image of Lord Subramaniam, youngest son of the mighty Shiva, which is carried
through the town so that devotees can throw coconuts onto the ground beside it.
Then devotees head for the Batu Caves which are a Hindu
pilgrimage site and one of Malaysia's great natural wonders.
The devotees come to give thanks for blessings received and to atone for sins.
Perhaps a family member recovered from a bad illness, or someone got the job
they wanted; whatever it is, first the devotees prepare by going down to the
Batu River where they enter a trance-like state so that 'God will ensure there
is no pain'. Then they don the kavadis, which can weigh up to 50 pounds.
Usually the kavadi is hooked onto the carrier with more than 100 steel hooks
inserted into the skin of the chest, back and face. Others wear skewers to
represent the vel - these are about 1cm wide - and worn through the cheeks or
vertically through the tongue! Some young men travel from the riverside to the
cave with large steel hooks in their backs, accompanied by friends who pull
backwards on the devotee so that the skin comes away from the flesh and bones.
The walk up to the Temple Cave is long. A little below the Temple Cave is the
Dark Cave, a
two-kilometre long network of relatively untouched caverns containing a large
number of cave animals, including species found nowhere else in the world!
February
Thaipusam (Penang
Hill) Every year, a procession of Hindus make this journey past the Waterfall
Gardens, up towards the cool heights of Penang Hill. The procession starts in
Jalan Dato' Keramat.
Past the junction with Jalan Gottlieb, you come upon three major Hindu temples
based at the
foothills, by the stream. The oldest temple here is the Nattukottai Chettiar
Temple which dates from the 1850s. Carrying the silver statue, the Thaipusam
silver chariot travels along Dato' Keramat Road and on to the Waterfall Hilltop
Temple. The procession is made up of faithful Hindus wearing kavadi, spokes of
metal which they pierce their cheeks with to do penance for their sins. It's
quite a spectacle!
January - February
Le Tour de Langkawi
(Langkawi/ Malaysia) Keen cycling enthusiasts will be coming in their droves to enjoy the 'Tour
de Langkawi'. It's a long race with a route which takes in most of Peninsula
Malaysia and the Langkawi Islands (of which there are 104).
February
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the most important festival to the Chinese community all
over the world.
It is celebrated over a period of 15 days, beginning from the first day of the
new Chinese lunar
calendar until Chap Goh Mei. In Malaysia, it used to be ushered in with the
lighting of
firecrackers at midnight on the Chinese New Year's eve but now it is illegal to
do so.
Prior to the celebrations, the Chinese can be seen searching for all kinds of
seasonal delicacies
like waxed duck as well as mandarin oranges, blossom flowers and kumquat (a
smaller version
of the mandarin orange) trees for prosperity and good luck. Before the new year
begins,
all debts must be settles and the house cleaned from top to bottom.
February
Carlsberg Malaysian
Open (Kuala Lumpur) Following two tournaments in Australia, the cream of European golf stops off
in Malaysia for the Malaysian Open. It is played at the Royal Selangor Golf
Club, reckoned to be among one of the best golf resorts in the world. The
tournament continues to grow in stature and attracts consistently strong fields.
February
Johor International
Kite Festival (Pasir Gudang)
Johor is the southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia. It connects the country
to Singapore and boasts some beautiful offshore islands.
Kites can take months to design and another few months to perfect. Bright
coloured patterns and floral shapes are cut out of paper to build up the body of
the kite. The finishing touches consist of adding the likes of long tasselled
ribbons. When they are attached to the intricate kites, some sporting wingspans
wider than the largest birds of prey, the sight is fantastic. Generations of
Malaysians have been making kites and it is considered to be one of their
ancient arts. Thus it's not surprising there are phenomenal kite competitions to
be found here. The winner of the kite competition is the person who can fly
their kite the highest. Some travel more than half a kilometre.
March
Formule
1 Malaysia
Grand Prix (Sepang)
One of
the first events in the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix motor racing season is the
Malaysian Grand Prix at the impressive Sepang track. The first World
Championship Grand Prix held at this new ultra-modern circuit, known for its
sweeping corners and wide straights, was in 1999, and since then the event has
become known as one of the most thrilling on the F1 Calendar
March
Kelantan traditional
Food and Handicraft competition (Kota Bahru)
During March in the provincial capital, Kota Bharu, you can sample some of the
traditional Kelantan dishes and handicrafts of the area. Look out for unique
dishes such as 'ayam percik' and 'nasi kerabu' (a speciality rice dish).
April
Malaysian Songkran
Festival (Hulu Perak)
Songkran Festival celebrates the Thai Buddhist New Year. The festival lasts for
three days- the first day is the last day of the old year, the second day is a
day of limbo and the third day is the beginning of the New Year.
People build sand stupas (temples) on riverbanks and beaches which then get
washed away.
Do not miss the brilliant colourful processions of the monks, dignitaries and of
course the Songkran. The Songkran is a beauty queen, the symbolic daughter of an
old king, who must carry the kings head through the streets once a year so as
not to forget his powerful reign. Legend has it that if the head should fall to
the ground, the whole earth will be consumed in fire. Consequently everyone
throws water on each other and there is a great atmosphere of fun and merriment.
People have parties and enjoy the holiday the three days bring. It's a great
time to visit Hulu Perak where the Buddhist temples will be thronging with
faithful Buddhists leaving offerings for the monks at the temple.
May
Prophet Muhammad's
Birthday Remembering the birthday of Islam's Last Prophet, Muhammed, is an
important festival in Malaysia. On this day all good Muslims go to the mosque to
pray where special sermons are given by the Imam (a spiritual teacher).
May
Buddha's
Birthday (Wesak Day) Wesak Day, celebrated on the May Full
Moon is the most auspicious day in the Buddhist calendar as it marks the birth,
enlightenment and death of Buddha. Celebrations begin before dawn with Buddhist
devotees gathering in temples throughout the country.
May
Momodu
Blessing Ritual This ancient Kadazan ritual is performed at the atmospheric House of Skulls
in Kota Kinabalu.
May
Miri Underwater
Treasure Hunt
Miri is a developed and busy town and an important
oil trading centre on the north-west coast of the island of Borneo. Here, in
these tropical reefs you can enjoy an underwater treasure hunt. Every May, when
diving conditions are at their very best, Miri divers hold this fabulous event.
June
Colours of
Malaysia The ambitious month-long Citrawarna Malaysia (Colours of Malaysia) is a celebration of the unique blend of cultures in the country. It covers
all varieties of performing arts, visual arts and crafts, involving all 13
states of Malaysia, plus the capital Kuala Lumpur, which present the best of
their entertainment, art and food. The opening is marked by a major parade.
June
Penang Floral
Festival (George Town)
This June you can roll up to enjoy an
international flower festival at Penang's Botanic Gardens, which are widely
acknowledged to be the finest Botanical Gardens in Malaysia and possibly in the
whole of South East Asia.
June
Penang International
Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival is a Chinese festival where local teams race each
other on the Mengkuang Lake in beautifully painted boats with prows carved in
the shapes of the heads of snakes. The dragon boat races take place in
remembrance of a great Chinese poet, Qu Yuan.
June
Lebuan Sea Challenge
Labuan is a tiny island off the coast of Brunei. Until it joined the
Federation of Malaysia it had seen 115 years of British colonial rule. It is now
an offshore banking centre. When seen from the air it looks like a star on a
turquoise sea and beneath the waves is a diver's paradise. When diving
conditions are at their very best, Borneo Divers hold an underwater treasure
hunt. Underwater sites include wrecks and sharks, so you are guaranteed a few
excellent dive spots. But don't worry, you don't have to bring back a shark.
There are hidden clues which you follow to find the treasure, buried somewhere
in the turquoise depths. This is the kind of diving experience which will live
on in your memory forever!
June
Labuan Sea
Challenge
Labuan is a tiny island off the coast of Brunei. Until it joined the
Federation of Malaysia it had seen 115 years of British colonial rule. It is now
an offshore banking center. When seen from the air it looks like a star on a
turquoise sea and beneath the waves is a diver's paradise.
July
The Sabah Dragon
Boat race
The Dragon Boat Festival is a spectacular boating competition taking place in
Likas Bay, Borneo. Local teams race each other in beautifully painted boats with
prows carved in the shapes of the heads of snakes.
June
The Feast Day of
Saint Peter
A unique Portuguese festival can be found in Malacca. This spice-rich state
has welcomed Sumatran princes, Dutch explorers, Portuguese traders and Chinese
emperors over the last 400 years. Malacca is an ancient trading city, founded on
the pirate-infested Straits of Malacca and boasts some of the finest mosques and
European-built Catholic churches in Asia.
July
Borneo International
Folk Festival
Once known as a dark and dangerous land, Sabah is now luring visitors with its
remoteness and diverse peoples. This festival, part of the Colors of Malaysia
2000 program, is a celebration of traditional and local dance, music arts and
crafts.
August
Lemang & Gasing
Festival in Sri Kendong/Astana Raja
A Gasing is a spinning top - used in one of Malaysia's favorite and most
competitive past-times. The gasing, or spinning top can weigh up to 5.5kg
fashioned from Malaysian hardwoods. Spinning these large gasings takes enormous
skill, dexterity, co-ordination and strength.A Gasing is a spinning top - used
in one of Malaysia's favourite and most competitive past-times. The gasing, or
spinning top can weigh up to 5.5kg fashioned from Malaysian hardwoods. Spinning
these large gasings takes enormous skill, dexterity, co-ordination and strength.
The winner of a gasing competition is the person whose gasing spins longest.
Legend has it, if the right 'spirit' enters the gasing, then it will spin for up
to 24 hours! Top spinning contests are usually held after the harvest season.
The champion gasing spinners of a community were often great folk heroes - so
highly were their skills rated. This festival is a brilliant chance to acquaint
yourself with this traditional Malaysian game.