Festivals & Celebrations

Festivals & Celebrations
Citrawarna Malaysia
One of the world's most colourful extravaganzas takes place in Kuala Lumpur near the end of May each year. Citrawarna or the Colours of Malaysia is the kick off ceremony for a month-long celebration of the cultural diversity of the people who live in the 14 states and 4 territories that make up that multifaceted country. This event also is one of the celebrations marking the official birthday of the new King of Malaysia, His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. In a kaleidoscope of colourful ethnic costumes, a procession of nearly six thousand Malaysians entered Merdeka Square. They escorted the float containing their King, the Queen and an assortment of dignitaries to the Royal dais. Then they presented a spectacular show, with a continuous presentation of music and dance significant to their different states or cultures. For three and a half hours I sat spellbound while being entertained by the exotic rhythm and movement of this magnificent mosaic of people. For the fifth successive year, the people of Malaysia showed visitors from throughout the world that people of vastly different cultural and ethnic backgrounds can live harmoniously and happily in one country.
 
Le Tour De Langkawi
The Tour de Langkawi is an annual cycling race which is held in Malaysia since 1996. The name of the event comes from the starting point of the first few editions, in Langkawi, Kedah, although some later editions did not include Langkawi in the race at all. The race is part of the UCI Asia Tour.

Four jerseys are contested during the race, although in history the jersey colours changed all the time to suit the sponsor, they are general classification, points classification; King of the Mountains and Asian riders classification. In addition, there are two team titles to honour teams classification and also Asian teams classification.

The tour is the biggest cycling event in Asia, and it is the only one in Asia to have granted two hors-category (2.HC).
 
Penang International Dragon Boat Festivals
The Penang's first Dragon Boat Race was held in 1956 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Municipality of George Town. 10 years later the race was revived as part of the Pesta Pulau Pinang. The Pesta races was originally confined to participation from the local teams such as teams from Government Department, associations and commercial establishments. However, in 1979, the boat festival became an international tourism carnival with 2 participation from overseas, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Penang International Dragon Boat Festival has participating teams all over the world include Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Macau, Thailand, Japan, Britain, West Germany, USA and others.
 
National Water Festival

Water resource plays an important role in the socio-cultural and economic development of the Malaysian society. Apart from functioning as a communication system, an economic, resource and determinant of early settlement pattern of the Malaysian society, it had also been a place where families carried out their recreational activities in the past. Therefore, water resource in whatever form should be protected, valued and utilized to the maximum.

The fun gets merrier with the drinking of the inevitable tapai which is an alcoholic drink made from rice wine. Apart from these, there are also organised agriculture shows, buffalo races, cultural performances and traditional games as part and parcel of the festive celebrations.
 
Local Artistes Concerts
Besides all these colorful festivals and celebrations, Malaysia is not complete without performances from its renowned artistes in various concerts that staged either at Stadium Bukit Jalil or Dataran Merdeka or maybe even in Istana Budaya. Various fusion, pop or ethnic concerts are showcased throughout the years here in Kuala Lumpur but the most sought after concert would probably from our darling diva Dato Siti Nurhaliza. Many of the guests would left stunned with her charisma, choreography and miraculous vocal abilities rendering her hits in the range of pop, traditional, contemporary and ballads but you might not want to miss the strings of colorful tunes from her hits like Cindai, Balqis, Nirmala, Aku Cinta Padamu, Destinasi Cinta & Di Taman Teman.
 
Even if you are rockers or hip hop lovers so settles in for mesmerizing tunes from our local rock band, May and hip hop duo's Too Phat as they both have surpassed their own credibility in entertaining all the guests from various backgrounds and language and if you are looking for variety in entertainment, Malaysia is truly the best place.
 
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. This has to do with the communal aspects of the fast, which expresses many of the basic values of the Muslim community; e.g., empathy for the poor, charity, worship, steadfastness, patience etc. Fasting is also believed by some scholars to extol fundamental distinctions, lauding the power of the spiritual realm, while acknowledging the subordination of the physical realm. It also teaches a Muslim to stay away from wordly desires and to focus entirely on the Lord and thank him for his blessings. It is a rejuvenation of the religion and it creates a stronger bond between the Muslim and his Lord. After the end of Ramadan, is a big celebration of Eid.
 
Hari Gawai (Harvest Festival)
Gawai Day or Gawai Dayak is a festival celebrated in Sarawak on 1 June every year. It is both a religious and social occasion. The word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is a collective name for the native ethnic groups of Sarawak (and neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan): the Iban, also known as Sea Dayak and the Bidayuh people, also known as Land Dayak. Thus, Gawai Dayak literally means "Dayak Festival". Dayak would visit their friends and relatives on this day. Such visit is more commonly known as "ngabang" in the Iban language. Those too far away to visit would receive greeting cards.

It started back in 1957 in a radio forum held by Mr Ian Kingsley, a radio programme organiser. This generated a lot of interest among the Dayak community.
 
Malaysia Independent Day
Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. It is not to be confused with the formation of Malaysia. August 31 of 1957 is designated as the formation of Malaya which does not include the states of Sabah and Sarawak.
 
 
Flora Fest Malaysia

Kelantan Flora Fest is an annual event held to enliven the festive Anniversary Birthday KDYMM Al-Sultan of Kelantan, while giving exposure to the people of Kelantan on the beauty and diversity of landscape architecture that can be applied as a value and practice in daily life.

Kelantan Flora Fest is a creative effort to promote the State Government of Kelantan in and outside the country, especially in the areas of landscape, garden and flowers. It also promotes Kelantan bertujuaan as a tourist destination, beautiful and interesting. Through the Festival, Flora, public awareness of the importance of landscapes, gardens, and flowers will increase and so will be a cultural landscape of society.