Greetings for a Selamat Hari Raya 2014

I wish you and your family a Selamat Hari Raya.


And a happy tune to go along..


More happy tunes for the occasion.

Thaipusam at Batu Caves - 2014

If you are a visitor to Kuala Lumpur and would like to get a feel of a major religious festival, the Batu Caves could be where you'd want to be today. But be warned that there would be thousands heading that way too to celebrate one of Malaysia's most colourful and meaningful of festivals.

Today is Thaipusam, a Hindu festival celebrated on a really large scale here in Kuala Lumpur where the action is to be found at Batu Caves. More about Thaipusam..





Image source: Wikipedia

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today is Chinese New Year or Spring festival, i.e., the first day of this most important Chinese festival. It is also the first day of the Year of the Snake. Chinese New Year is celebrated for fifteen days.

You can read about what we do on the First day of Chinese New Year and about the Reunion dinner on Chinese New Year eve.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Selamat Hari Raya Haji

Today, Muslims in Malaysia like Muslims around the world celebrate Hari Raya Haji, as we call it here.

Hari Raya Haji is the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar. It marks the end of the annual hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.

I'd like to wish everyone who is celebrating this happy occasion Selamat Hari Raya Haji.

The streets in the city are quieter than usual as people head back to their hometown to celebrate the festival with their family. And the holiday falling on a Friday means a longer weekend for to enjoy the holiday

Sights and sounds of lantern festival at Central Market

The 1Malaysia Lantern Tourism Festival 2012 kicked off with fireworks, LED drum performances and a dance with an amalgam of traditional costumes in front of Central Market last week.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said this year’s festival was different from previous years. “This year’s lantern is bigger and more beautiful,” she said.

If you happen to be in Kuala Lumpur, this would be a good time to visit the many beautiful lanterns on display at the Central Market, a tourist destination in itself where you can buy home Malaysian handicraft for friends and family back home.

More..Sights and sounds of lantern festival light up Central Market

Hari Raya Open House

Today is the first day of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Hari Raya is a time of forgiveness and strengthening of ties. In the true spirit of Hari Raya, Open houses are normally held by dignatories open to everyone. If you would like to join in the spirit of goodwill and comraderie and experience an Open house, why not head on over to any of these Open Houses as listed below.



To all who celebrate Hari Raya, let me wish you and your loved ones A Selamat Hari Raya.

Chinese New Year in Malaysia

Happy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

This is the Year of the Rat. If you are a visitor to Malaysia, you would have noticed the Chinese New Year decorations downtown, in malls and homes.

Even the food served is different from normal times. Have you tried this dish? Have you seen the ritual involved? Everyone around the table uses a pair of chopsticks and toss the dish with wishes of better tidings in the new year.

This is a dish of various vegetables and fruits cut up in strips mixed with raw fish slices or abalone and condiments. This dish called "Yee Sang" is only available during the Chinese New Year. Nowhere else in the world will you find this yummy unique Yee Sang dish.



Lantern decorations adorn the streets for that air of festivity.



Chinese oranges or mandarins are synonymous with the Chinese New Year. They symbolise good fortune.


The pictures above are actually e-postcards. Would you like to send them to your friends and family at home? They can be found on Postcards from Malaysia.