| Among the many varied festivals and celebrations Malaysians enjoy.
The most significant celebration for Muslims, it signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The words ‘Hari Raya’ means day of celebration.
Celebrated by the Chinese community, Chinese New Year occurs usually during mid-January to mid-February. The festivities are celebrated for 3 days, but as a whole, last for 15 days.
Known also as the Patriotic Poet’s Festival or the Dumpling Festival, Chinese communities, living especially in coastal and riverine areas, observe the fifth moon of the lunar calendar with rice dumplings and dragon boat races.
The Mid-Autumn, or Mooncake Festival, falls on the 15th day of the Chinese eighth month, and is celebrated to signify the end of the harvest season. Associated with paper lanterns, it is also called the Lantern Festival.
On this day it is believed that the "Gates of Hell" are opened and that the dead return to visit their living relatives. The Chinese feel that they have to satisfy the imprisoned and hungry ghosts in order to get good fortune and luck
Celebrated by Hindus as the day the evil Narakasura was slain by Lord Krishna. Signifying the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
Hindus celebrate Thaipusam on the tenth month of their calendar. Thai' is the Hindu month which falls between January 15 to February 15. The festival is best witnessed at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur and in Penang.
Held in the middle of January, Pongal is a cultural festival celebrated by Hindus to mark the harvesting and to give thanks to the sun for its bounty.
Celebrated by the Dayak communities in Sarawak. Celebrated mid year on June 1 and 2, though unofficially, the festivities begin during the last week of May and continue through mid-June.
In May, Sabahan's celebrate the Kadazan Harvest Festival.
The Melanau festival, or 'Kaul', appeasing the spirits of the sea, land, forests and farm is celebrated at the end of the rainy season and the start of the fishing season in late March or early April. The festival is celebrated on different days in the many Melanau settlements along the coast.
A delightful cultural event celebrated by the Portuguese-Eurasian community of Malacca. to commemorate the birthday of the patron saint of fishermen, San Pedro. The fishing boats, which are colorfully decorated for the festival, are blessed and prayers offered for a better season
Held annually on Dec 25th, Christians celebrate the Nativity, or the birth of Christ. Christmas celebrations here in Malaysia are a little different from the rest of the world.
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