Malaysia Holidays & Festivals

Hari Raya Puasa is the Malay equivalent of Eid al Fitr, a major Islamic festival held at the end of the dawn-to-sunset fasting month of Ramadan. Hari Raya means “a day of celebration” and “puasa” means “fasting.” It is celebrated in Indonesia, another Muslim-majority country, as Lebaran. Although Muslims are …

If you plan on visiting Malaysia next month, make time for a trip to Penang State which will celebrate its 4th George Town Festival in commemoration of George Town’s inscription to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites on July 7, 2008. The celebrations will kick off on June 7, 2013 and …

Thaipusam or Thai Poosam is a yearly holiday celebrated by the Tamil Hindus to honor Lord Murugan. This holiday is hugely anticipated and widely observed in many parts of the world where Tamil communities, big or small, can be found. Thaipusam is celebrated when the moon is full on the …

The Chinese New Year is China’s most important holiday. It is also known as the Spring Festival. Traditionally, the New Year period lasts for 15 days, starting from the middle of the last month and ends sometime in the middle of the first month. The holiday not only welcomes in …

Many countries around the world celebrate their independence day, a date that marks their freedom from foreign colonizers and shows their strength and patriotism. Malaysia has their Hari Merdeka held every August 31. In 2013, the country will celebrate its 56th Independence Day. But did you know that Malaysia actually …

Many countries that were once colonies of European countries celebrate their individual independence days for thanksgiving and unity. Malaysia, after being under the British rule for many years, decided that they could stand on their own and placed a bid for their merdeka. Their independence. Standing on their own In …

Deepavali is the “Festival of Lights” and is a five-day celebration that is considered to be the most important holiday in the Hindu calendar. Its literal translation is “a row of lights”, as the festival’s name is derived from the words “deep” that means lights, and “avail” to mean a …

When it comes to monarchy, what we know is mostly based on the European royalty. Their positions are hereditary, meaning that it gets passed on from generation to generation from father to son, and sometimes, from mother to daughter. In Malaysia, their king is called a Yang di-Pertuan Agong. But …

The Hari Raya Haji is an important holiday for the Muslims. Called “The Festival of Sacrifice”, it honors the prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to follow God’s command that he must sacrifice his firstborn son, Ishmael. The holiday also marks the end of the annual Hajj to Mecca. The lunar …

Hari Raya Puasa is more known to the world as Eid al-Fitr, the “Feast of Breaking of the Fast.” It is one of the two Eid holidays that the Muslims worldwide celebrate every year. Hari Raya Puasa, or Hari Raya Aidilfitri is how the holiday is referred to by the …

The Prophet Muhammad is believed to be Allah’s last prophet and a key figure in the Islamic faith. Many believers celebrate his birth, and call it “Mawlid al-Nabi”.  The word “mawlid” has Arabic roots and means “to give birth”. In more modern times, “mawlid” is used to refer to the …

The multi-cultural wonders of Malaysia are best experienced with the numerous festivals that dot the country’s calendar of events. The festivities that surround these events in Malaysia will provide a great opportunity for you to experience the interesting ways in which different cultures, traditions, and religions have merged beautifully, making …