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This festival marks the start of the new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar and is a time for joyous family reunions and feasting. Gifts of ang pow (money packets), firecrackers and lion dances are some of the Chinese New Year highlights.
Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, this event is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It marks a successful rebellion against the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty in 14th century China, where secret messages were hidden inside some moon cakes while lanterns were used as signals. Today, round moon cakes with various fillings are presented as gifts while lantern processions are held.
Literally, it means the 15th night and is referred to the 15th night in the Chinese New Year. Initially it marks the end of the Chinese New Year but the Chinese always has symbolic meaning behind a practice. In the ancient China, lantern festivals accompanied by poem guessing and reading sections were the main events during a Chap Goh Meh evening. The young ladies who were not allowed to hang on the street will be granted the permission to go out from the confines of their homes, dressed in their bejeweled best and walked in the street. They are normally accompanied by the fiercest looking aunts and servants. Many of the ardent gentlemen found their princess of charming during from looking on longingly at the passing parade under the moonlighting.
And there begins their romance. Instead of the lantern parade and guessing-answering activities, the highlight of the festival is the orange throwing ceremony. Usually after the family dinner, the local maidens will be in gang either with fellows or family go to the nearby river or sea and throw orange into the water orange with the wish that the suitor will approach her sooner. Meanwhile the gentlemen will row a boat and try to catch the ‘suitable’ orange. Off course it is always for fun. Today there are local associations or clubs organized this ‘oranges throwing’ every year as one of the festivals for this celebration. Chap Goh Meh here is still celebrating with dragon dance, prayers and family gathering.
Many Chinese, Indians and indigenous communities of Sabah and Sarawak are Christians. On 25 December, special services are held in churches all over Malaysia while carolers mark the yuletide spirit in homes and shopping centre.
Also known as the Festival of Lights, the Hindu celebration of Deepavali (or Diwali) is observed in the seventh month of the Tamil lunar calendar. It marks Lord Krishna's legendaries, victory of light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil. Hindus celebrate by adorning their homes with oil lamps, taking a ritual morning bath and offering ceremonial prayers in temples, amidst the chimes of bell.
A day when Buddhists observe the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Religious offerings and rituals - such as 'bathing of the Buddha', chanting of Sutras (holy scriptures), lighting of joss sticks and ordination of monks - usually take place in the Buddhist temples around Malaysia. Night sees colourful processions of decorated floats with devotees carrying candies to denote the 'path of light and righteousness.
The Hindu celebration in the 1Oth month of the lunar calendar marks Lord Subramaniam's birthday. On the eve of Thaipusam, a statue of the deity is drawn in an elaborate procession from Kuala Lumpur to the stepped Barn Caves temple. The next day, devotees carry ornately decorated kavadis on their shoulders, with hooks and spikes extending into various parts of the body as an expression of penance and thanksgiving.
The new year celebration for Sikhs, it also commemorates the birth of the Khalsa order in 1699AD, when Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Sikh Guru) baptized the Sikhs.
Bestowing the name Singh - meaning 'lion' upon males, and Kaur - meaning 'princes'- upon females. At home and in Sikh temples, prayers are chanted and hymns are sung.
This centuries-old celebration in June marks the end of the paddy planting season and the start of the new season for the Dayaks of Sarawak. Ancestral graves are tended to and other rituals performed. Celebration begin with a reunion dinner for the entire family. Tuak (rice wine) is served and there is much marry making with traditional costumes, dances and community events. Livestock's is also sacrificed to ensure a good harvest the following season.
The Kadazan Dusun and Murut groups of Sabah celebrate their harvest festival in May. The highlight is a ceremony performed by the Bobobizan, or high priestess, to pay homage to the rice spirit so that a good harvest can be expected.
Tapai (rice wine) is commonly served amidst festivities, and the harvest queen contest is held to seek the fairest maiden in honour of a legendary heroine of the community.
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