Kuala Lumpur Festivals- Plunge into the Diverse Festivity and Celebrations
A diverse ethnic community engrosses the city of Kuala Lumpur and this has paved the way for a multitude of diverse festivals of energy and enthusiasm. These festivals signify unity and harmony of the multicultural citizens of Kuala Lumpur who eagerly immerse in these varied native and exotic events.
The most anticipated is the Chinese New Year which is celebrated with much elaboration with an Array of shopping and dining specialties. The Chinese will celebrate the event with much cultural flair which include worshipping ancestors and Gods, paying homage to adults, cleaning of their dwellings and visits to kin and friends. Red is the chosen colour of the festival and this is extensively used in all the lighting and decoration as well as the new attire worn during the period. New Year’s Eve is a reunion affair where dumplings signifying wealth and prosperity are consumed at a grand dinner held with parents, grandparents and relatives. Traditional Chinese firecrackers are lit at the dawning of the New Year and some of the households welcome lion dancers that will intensify the merriment and enthusiasm of the festival.
The Mid Autumn festival commemorates the demise of the Mongolian leaders and also the summer harvest festival of the ancestors. The festival is also referred to as the Lantern or Moon Cake Festival and moon cakes of assorted flavours are available during this time of the year to the delight of the massive crow celebrating this event.
Deepavali or the Festival of Lights is celebrated by the Hindus living in the city and it is an outpouring of charismatic colours and decorations. The houses are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with coloured rice while temples are adorned by garlands of flowers and offerings. Hari Raya is celebrated by Muslims around the world signifying the end of the fasting season. A range of bazaars will occupy the city at different venues in evenings during the fasting period and once the prolong fasting adjourns there would be an outburst of family and friends gatherings. Other enchanting festivals include Malasyia’s National Day, Christmas and many other distinct Arrays of festivals. Hotels in Kuala Lumpur will be accordingly themed and visitors can indulge in these luxury amenities while enjoying the dazzling festivals.
The Ramadhan Bazaar in Langkawi, Malaysia
May 4, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
The month-long, delightful Food Carnival and Extravaganza is back. With the start of Ramadhan here in Malaysia today, you can find stalls selling varieties of mouth-watering food and drinks for the breaking of fast everywhere in Langkawi from today right up to 30th. September. It is known as the Ramadhan Bazaar or “Pasar Ramadan” in Malay. The bazaars normally will be open daily from 4pm and closes at about 7.15pm ( right before the breaking of fast).
The month of Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, and is a month where Muslims must fast (”puasa” in Malay) from sunrise till sunset.
It is a month for spiritual reflection, prayers, and essentially training the body and mind to be a good, righteous, complete and perfect Muslim.
Fasting is not only forgoing food and drink from sunrise till sunset, but also “fasting” of the mind from unhealthy thoughts, the mouth from uttering bad words, the ears from listening untrue gossips about others, and the eyes from looking at prohibited matters.
The Ramadhan Bazaars (or Pasar Ramadan in Malay) are different from night markets in the sense that these Ramadhan Bazaars sell mostly food and drinks for the breaking of fast.
As in previous years, there will be a variety of delicacies and freshly baked treats to tempt the eye from basketfuls of kuih (local 1 cake) assortment to rows of side dishes and drinks to complement a family dinner.
There is no better time for locals and tourists to titillate taste buds than by touring the various buka puasa (breaking of fast) spots and trying out the various delicacies each site offers during the month-long Ramadhan Bazaar. Two main Ramadhan Bazaars here are located in down town Kuah (Pandak Mayah area) and Padang Matsirat near the Langkawi Airport while you can find smaller bazaars or other licences stalls everwhere throughout Langkawi.
This is the time when tourists can join Malaysian Muslims and non-Muslims alike to savour authentic Malay dishes offered by street vendors and restaurants in hotels throughout the fasting month.
VARIETIES OF FOOD AND DRINKS
The food traders, who are given temporary license at allotted spaces by the local authority, sells usually under canopies and huge umbrellas.
Stalls are normally set up as early as 4pm and by late evening they would be packed with people of all races. For the stall traders, some of them part-timers, it is a time when they can earn extra income for the family to be used for buying essentials and luxuries to celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.
These stalls attract Muslims and non-Muslims alike to their special once-a-year delicacies and favourite foods.
For more related stories and happenings in Langkawi please read my Langkawi Photograpger Blog: Langkawi Photographer Blog
To view more images of events and special occasions in Langkawi visit my photography website: AFFENDY.COM
