Religious Ceremonies in Malaysia

By Nur Shafikah Mahad

Malaysia is a multiracial country. There are many religious practices by different races, such as Islam, Buddha, Christian and Hindu, to name a few. The main religion in Malaysia is Islam. Even though Malaysians live among a variety of cultures and practices, the country is still a peaceful and harmonious place to visit as the people accept differences through understanding. Every year, there are many religious ceremonies celebrated by Malaysians according to their own religions. Through the year every religion also has been given a chance to celebrate their ceremonies according to their own religion. Usually, there will be special leave for the celebrations. The main celebrations in Malaysia are Hari Raya Puasa for the Muslims, Chinese New Year for the Chinese and Deepavali for the Indians. Besides these main celebrations, there are other unique religious ceremonies which are also celebrated in Malaysia.

 Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday

Islam is the official religion in Malaysia. Every year, in the third month of Islamic calendar, on 12 Rabiul Awal, the Muslims will celebrate the Prophet’s birthday in order to show appreciation and celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s life. There is a term used in Malaysia which is “Mawlid” or in Arabic also known as mawlidu n-nabiyyi, "Birth of the Prophet". During this celebration, all Muslims will spend their time together to praise the Prophet Muhammad by giving invocation to the Prophet. In Islam also our beloved Prophet (may peace be upon him) once said, "The person who ask blessings upon me abundantly (selawat) will be closest to me during the Day of Judgment." To celebrate the Prophet’s birthday is to celebrate Islam, because the Prophet is the symbol of Islam.

Malaysia’s Muslims celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday by a procession to mark-Mawlid

Malaysia’s Muslims celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday by a procession to mark-Mawlid

The procession to mark Mawlid is usually organized during the day on 12th Rabiul Awal. Muslims will assemble early in the morning to bless the Prophet. According to Islam, each bless is counted and it will help them to receive the Prophet Muhammad’s blessing on the Day of Judgement. In Malaysia, it is a public holiday. As in Malaysia’s culture, during the public holiday Muslims who are not involved in the parade will bring their family to celebrate the Mawlid as well and non-Muslims are also are welcome to watch the procession.

Various instituitions will participate in the event including Government companies, Private companies, school children and other various public associations. In order to encourage the Muslims to participate, the organizer will provide prizes for the winner. The winner will be chosen based on the criteria such as the best outfit, the most beautiful banner and also the most disciplined group during the event. After the opening ceremony in the morning, the participant will start walking in procession while praising God (Allah) and Prophet Muhammad from the place they gather which usually begins at the stadium until the end point which is at the mosque.

During Mawlid, Muslims in Malaysia will also organize the ceremony at the mosque to praise the Prophet

 Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a holy festival celebrated by Hindus as a thanksgiving to their deity, Lord Subramaniam (also known as Lord Muruga) during the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (January - February).  It is perhaps the most elaborate and spectacular of all the Hindu festivals, mainly due to the combination of what seems like a painful body piercing and a religious practice. In Malaysia, Thaipusam is held in most parts of the country but the largest gatherings are in Kuala Lumpur. Unlike Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebration, Thaipusam is not a public holiday for the whole country but only in certain states. Usually the celebration will be held in Kuala Lumpur, this three-day Thaipusam festival starts from the Sri Mahamariaman Temple in Chinatown and ends in Batu Caves, covering a distance of about 9.5 miles.

A young man undergoing this ritual then carries the Kavadi along the processional route.

A young woman carries ritualistic milk in a procession during the Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur. Hindus in India, Malaysia, and other country also celebrate to mark the birth of Lord Subramaniam, a son of Lord Shiva. 

                 

 Hungry Ghost And Mooncake Festival

Hungry Ghost and Mooncake Festival are also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth moon in August and September with colorful lantern processions and the partaking of mooncakes. In Malaysia, the Hungry Ghost Festival is observed widely. Some shops will close in order to leave the streets more open for the ghosts, and concert-like performances called Koh-tai are held in which the first few rows of seats are always left empty, so that the ghosts may have the seats of honour. Usually, these performances are held in neighbourhoods and residential districts. The situation is usually very quiet, the mood more somber than celebratory, and they will be burning something. During the ghost night, we can see burning joss sticks with nearly every glance as you wander through Chinese areas, and the air will be redolent with the sweet pungency of burning incense. Next is an atmospheric description - The food on the curb: full takeaway containers of rice and noodles, complete with chopsticks and forks, the lids slightly opened. Perched next to the uneaten food were bottles and cans of beer and soft drinks, also opened, but full. Planted in the ground nearby were little flags and what looked like incense sticks, also smoldering like the pile of apparent trash in the middle of the street. Chinese tradition holds that during this time, the realms of Heaven and Hell are opened, and ghosts freely visit the realm of the living.

Offerings to ancestors during Hungry Ghost Festival

As the ghost month fades with the lunar cycle, it gives rise to another observance popular throughout Malaysia in the eighth lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival. More commonly known as the Mooncake Festival, this celebratory period is eagerly anticipated by those keen to try the latest mooncake creations offered each year at this time. The full moon is represented by the salted egg yolk found in the centre of many mooncakes, which have become an indispensible component of the annual festival, so much so that it is more commonly known as the Mooncake Festival. Typical mooncakes will either have a flaky baked crust or a tender white unbaked crust (“snow skin” – made from glutinous rice) and the fillings vary dramatically. For ethnic Chinese who adheres to this belief and living in Malaysia, it has become a part of their culture every year. There is nothing more satisfying to know that we are continuing this century old tradition of filial piety and honouring our ancestors that withstood the test of time and modern influence.

Mooncakes and Chinese Tea

Mooncakes and Chinese Tea

Keamatan Festival (Harvest Festival)

The KeamatanFestival in Malaysia is also known as Tadau Ka’amatan (Harvest Festival). This is a native festival of the Kadazan-Dusun which is the largest ethnic group in Sabah is the grandest in the state. The annual festival held in May is in honour of Bambaazon, the spirit of the rice paddy. It is a joyous occasion for friends and family when everyone makes time to appreciate each other.

The people of Kadazan-Dusun wearing the traditional costume to celebrate the Harvest Festival

The Kadazan Priestess called Bobohizan determines the official harvest festival date and officiates it. The Bobohizan plays an important role in the festival, which consist of several ceremonies. These ceremonies include tying 7 stalks of rice together and placing them in a tadang or basket, and moving them into a rice hut. Each ceremony is important and to ensure the farmers will be able to harvest again in the next planting season.  On the last day of celebrations, the Harvest Festival Queen or Unduk Ngadau is crowned. The title comes from Runduk Tadau, which means 'the girl crowned by the sunlight.'

The winner of Unduk Ngadau received prizes

Gawai Festival

The Gawai Dayak festival is celebrated yearly on 1 June in Sarawak, is both a religious and social festival. Gawaj means ritual or festival and Dayak is a collective name for the tribes of Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut and more. Preparations for the festival begin early with brewing of tuak (rice wine) and traditional delicacies like penganan (cakes from rice flour, sugar and coconut milk). On Gawai eve, glutinous rice is roasted in bamboo known as ngelulun pulut.

The celebration starts on the evening of 31 May with a ceremony called Muai Antu Rua (to cast away the spirit of greediness), signifying the non-interference of the spirit of bad luck in the celebrations. Two children or men each dragging a chapan (winnowing basket) will pass each family’s room in the Iban longhouse with each family throwing unwanted articles into the basket. The unwanted articles are then tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the spirit of bad luck.

Around 6pm, the offering ceremony known as miring will take place, with ritual music; gendang rayah being performed beforehand. The feast chief will thank the gods for the good harvest, ask for guidance, blessings and long life as he sacrifices a cockerel. Dinner will then be served, while everyone talks and mingles awaiting for midnight.

Traditional dance: Ngajat Dance

At the stroke of midnight, a gong is sounded and the tuai rumah will lead everyone in drinking the Ai Pengayu (tuak for long life) at the same time wishing each other ‘long life, health and prosperity’ (gayu-guru, gerai- nyamai). A procession to welcome the spirits known as Ngalu Petara ensues with a procession walking up and down the entire length of the longhouse. The celebration now gets merrier with dancing and traditional music being played. Others will recite pantun (poetry). Other activities that may follow the next day include cock-fighting, blowpipe demonstrations and ngajat (dancing) competitions. On this day, the homes of the Dayaks will be open to visitors. In the longhouses, a practice called masu pengabang takes place where guests will be served with tuak by the host before they can enter the longhouse. The Gawai Dayak festival may last up to several days, with visitors being welcomed to the homes of the Dayaks throughout the festival. It is also this time of year that many Dayak weddings take place, as it is rare for all members of the community to assemble at the longhouse at one time.

Iban’s children wearing their traditional costume during the Gawai Festival