Mid-month festivities

April a special time for many of penang’s multiracial communities

WITH several different cultural and religious celebrations taking place back-to-back, Malaysia was abuzz with festivity last week.

As communities busied themselves with preparations, visitors were treated to a feast of culture and tradition.

On April 9, the Telugu community celebrated their new year, known as Ugadi.

Next, it was the turn of the Muslim community who celebrated Hari Raya Aidilfitri on April 10 and 11.

Many made the journey back to Penang to visit grandparents, parents and relatives, dressed in their finest traditional costumes such as baju melayu and baju kurung.

The Sikh community celebrated Vaisakhi on April 14, which marks the establishment of the Khalsa order by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 and corresponds with the harvest festival in India.

A 48-hour reading of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was conducted at gurdwaras from April 12 to 14.

Many activities were organised including the Guru Ka Langgar where vegetarian meals were served.

The Tamil and Malayalee communities also ushered in their respective new years, Chithirai Puthandu and Vishu, on April 14.

While Chithirai is the first month in the Tamil calendar, Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam in the Malayalam calendar.

It is important to view auspicious items as the first thing on Vishu day, a practice known as Vishukkani.

Preparations began days before with vendors in George Town’s Little India seeing brisk sales.

The Siamese community also celebrated the Thai New Year or Songkran.

Revellers drenched each other with water guns in fun scenes synonymous with the festival.

M. Karmughillaan and his wife S. Maiytiniy seeking blessings from his parents SV Manimaran and A. Vairam Kaliammah during the Chithirai puthandu prayers at home, while his sisters (from left) Shivagaaminiy and livanyah priya look on. — photos: KT GOH, lim BENG TATT and CHAN BOON Kai/the Star

lee Chun Khai, 19, (left) splashing water during Songkran Festival with his friends at Wat Chaiya Mangalaram in Burma lane.

Saiful Hizat Sazali , 38, (left) with his mother Mahani Omar, 67, (in orange) and three generations of other family members on the first day of Hari raya in Kampung dodol.

Mas Andriani Miftahulhuda (right) from Cameron Highlands and her family members were spotted all dressed up while visiting several attractions near Armenian Street in George Town.

A group of volunteers helping out in the kitchen during the Vaisakhi celebration at the Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Bayan Baru.