Festivals of Malaysia

The following are just some of the most important festivals celebrated in Malaysia:

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
Celebrated by Muslims each year (although not on a fixed date as each year Hari Raya is 2 weeks earlier than the last), Hari Raya Aidil Fitri marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. From the 20th day of the month onward a festive mood prevails as lights are lit outside Muslim homes. For tourists in Kuala Lumpur the fasting month itself can be one of the best times to sample Malay food which is sold at countless stalls in areas like Kampung Baru, Jalan Chow Kit and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman during the “breaking of the fast” in the early evenings. On Hari Raya morning, at the end of the fasting month, families pray at mosques and visit the graves of their departed. Children formally ask for pardon from their parents for the misdeeds of the previous year. Friends and well-wishers are feted to goodies. (link to more.discover-malaysia.com/events)

Chinese Lunar New Year
With its huge ethnic Chinese population in Malaysia, Chinese New Year is a important and widely celebrated event. Chinese New Year usually falls in January or February and the celebrations last for 15 days. An important part of the celebration is the reunion dinner among family members on the eve of New Year. The next morning, prayers are offered at temples for good luck. Unmarried children receive “ang pows” (red envelopes with money) from their parents and relatives. Feasting and merry-making follow and lion dance performances are seen and heard at houses, shopping complexes, and in the streets. The celebrations end with another feast on Chap Goh Meh, the 15th day. On this evening single women throw oranges into the sea to wish for a good husband. (link to more.discover-malaysia.com/events)

Deepavali
Deepavali usually falls in late October or early November. Known as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali falls on the darkest night of the year according to the Hindu almanac. According to Hindu belief, the deity Lord Krishna on this day defeated the forces of evil led by Nargansuran, freeing the people from darkness. Ritual offerings of sweet meat and cakes, the lighting up of homes with oil lamps, the decorating of the sitting room with rangoli are part of the celebrations. Relatives and friends visit each other to eat and drink. (link to more.discover-malaysia.com/events)

Wesak Day
Celebrated by Buddists, Wesak Day normally falls in May. At Buddist temples, saffron-robed monks chant prayers, and devotees release caged birds, give alms to monks and bathe the image of Buddha. At night, there is usually a float procession, accompanied by candle-bearing devotees. Wesak Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. In Kuala Lumpur, Wesak Day is celebrated on a grand scale at the International Buddist Pagoda in Jalan Brickfields. (link to more.discover-malaysia.com/events)

Ka’amatan Festival (Harvest Festival)
Observed in Sabah, Borneo, by the Kadazan-Dusun community on 30th May, the Kaamatan Festival features a ceremony performed by the bobohizan (high priestess) seeking out the Bambarayon or rice spirits to request for a bountiful harvest. Lavish festivities follow and tapai (rice wine) flows freely. To honour a maiden sacrificed in times of yore, a beauty pageant is also held whereby the winner is crowned Unduk Ngadau or “Harvest Queen”. (link to more.discover-malaysia.com/events)

Gawai
The Dayaks and Bidayuhs in Sarawak celebrate this post-harvest festival on the 2nd of June. Prior to the festival, homes and ancestral graves are cleansed and elaborate preparations for feasts are made. On the eve of the festival, children offer special food to their parents in a reunion ceremony. For the next seven days there is much dancing, feasting and drinking of tuak (rice wine). Animals are also sacrificed to the spirits for a good harvest. (link to more.discover-malaysia.com/events)