Tag - Culture

KOTA KINABALU: The Wah San Chon Chu Kong temple in Ranau will play host to about 5,000 guests from worldwide who are expected to attend the fourth Malaysia Tuah Peh Kong festival this weekend. It will be the first time that the festival to be held from May 11 to 13, is hosted by a temple in Sabah. The previous hosts were Bintulu, followed by Sibu and later Kuching. The long line of guests will include senior officials, representatives and devotees of the Tuah Peh Kong deity in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia with some 68 affiliated Taoist temples from Sarawak and 10 from Peninsular Malaysia are expected to take part in the celebration. Organising chairman Datuk Chua Khen Siong explained that the main objective of the celebration is to promote better understanding of the Tua Peh Kong deity, his benevolent attributes and contributions to the Chinese community. Chua said the actual celebration will be on May 12, starting from 8am till 6pm, with a host of interesting programmes lined up to mark the celebration. This includes a spectacular procession by the various affiliated temples, a car float procession comprising of Volkswagon cars and various other types of four-wheel-drive vehicles starting at 6pm. The programmes will kick start with an assembly of the participants and guests at the premises of the temple, at 8am, to be followed by an elaborated mass prayer ceremony headed by Datuk Seri Panglima Sari Nuar Tan, the president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS). Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai is expected to grace the occasion on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman. A welcoming dinner will be held on the evening of May 11. “Most of the guests will put up in Kundasang and Ranau,” said Chua, who is also the chairman of the Wah San Chon Chu Kong temple and expressed his appreciation to the State government and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment for the support and generosity to partially sponsor the expenses incurred for the celebration. Chua also urged tour operators in the State to bring their guests to the temple, to observe and to experience the unique Malaysian Taoist culture and celebration. The worship of the Tua Pek Kong in Southeast Asia is a unique culture of the Chinese community. Tuah Peh Kong which literally means “Grand Uncle” in the Hokkien dialect is one of the pantheons of the Taoist deities. It was believed that Tuah Peh Kong first arrived in Malaysia in Penang some 40 years before Captain Francis Light in 1746. The Tuah Peh Kong was a man named Zhang Li from the Hakka clan and his Sumatra-bound boat was blown away by the wind and accidentally landed on Penang island which at that time was inhabited by 50 people. After his death, the local people began worshipping him and built the Tuah Peh Kong temple there and today Tuah Peh Kong is worshipped by Malaysian Chinese throughout the country. Tuah Peh Kong is often mistaken for Tu Di Gong, partially because of their physical similarities. Meanwhile, the Wah San Chon Chu Kong temple is also a popular tourist destination, especially famous for its ‘holy spring water’ and it is commonly held by the local community that the consumption of the natural spring water obtained from a source 108-feet deep in the vicinity of the temple, could help treat many illnesses. Many also believe that bathing with the water could get rid of bad luck. Source : Borneo Post

KUALA PENYU: STATE leaders were made to sweat as they took part in a ritual, displayed their dancing skills and obliged a chanting shaman to mark the launch of the month-long Pesta Kaamatan, or Harvest Festival, here yesterday. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman declared open the festival, which will move on to other districts across the state, before culminating at the Hongkod Koisaan Building in Penampang on May 30 and 31. The elaborate launch came with a sombre ritual by a high priestess, Kinup Suram, to appease the rice spirits, leaders cutting stalks of rice before sharing a meal and dancing the sumazau on stage -- kicking off the state's biggest annual celebration. Even the poor ventilation system, which got officials of the event apologising and scurrying to repair the air condition system at the main venue, the Datuk Shahbandar Hall, did not bother Musa who told them not to worry as he was an orang kampung (villager) like every other leader in his cabinet. "I can take the heat so do not worry about me or about the other leaders. "What is more important here is we celebrate and respect this meaningful festival together." Present were deputy chief minister and paramount leader of the Kadazandusun and Murut community Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, who was also the organising chairman, and Kuala Penyu assemblyman John Teo. "I see the people here taking every opportunity to be part of the celebration," Musa said and referred to the blanket of stalls on the sidewalks across the coastal town right to the main venue at the hall as a testament to this. Musa said this was where the people of Sabah were in their element, displaying their strong commitment towards preserving their rich culture and tradition as well as strengthening unity among the various communities. "That is why we are always referred to as a role model in showing the example of what the 1Malaysia policy represents, and we need to preserve this through such celebrations which brings us together." Themed "The Love of Culture Builds A Caring Society", the festival is celebrated by the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities in the state in May. Apart from the district level celebrations, it is also observed in villages or even at homes among family members. "This theme was picked to create a platform for people in Sabah to strengthen unity and harmony among the various races," Kitingan said. Source : New Straits Times

KOTA KINABALU: A list of fringe events have been lined up to add to the excitement of Sabah Fest 2012 to be held from May 3 to 5 at the auditorium of Sabah Art and Cultural Department complex here. Final preparations are being made to showcase the works of some of Sabah’s best traditional handicraft makers and local delicacies during the three-day festival. The food and handicraft exhibition will highlight craft makers from all over the state who will be there demonstrating the production of handicrafts such as traditional tapestries by Sirungan binti Sulaiman from Kota Belud, bamboo musical instruments by George Nuli form Kota Belud and Philipus Jani from Tambunan, miniature lepa-lepa by Haji Alpaka Hamah from Semporna and bead accessories by Nonjiring Montoku from Kudat. Established art and handicraft institutions, including Sabah Art Gallery, Kraftangan Malaysia, Kadaiku, Mayuri House of Art & Learning, RF Collections of Sabah Pearls, and Rafflesia House of Batik, will also be opening up exhibition booths to showcase their products. Entrance to the food and handicraft exhibition is free and members of the public are welcomed to the event which will be held from 10am to 10pm from May 3 to 5. Pocket shows of traditional dances namely the Magunatip, Sumazau and Bertitik will be held from 5pm to 10pm throughout the Sabah Fest on the grounds outside the auditorium and of course, the highly anticipated musical stage performance, The Adventures of Ngarayang, will be held at 8.30pm (tickets applicable). Free parking is available at various car parks in the area, including at Taman Rimba, Sabah State Library and Ministry of Agriculture. It is going to be a highly entertaining and culturally enriching experience at this year’s Sabah Fest, so bring your family and friends to this not-to-be-missed annual cultural affair. Tickets priced at RM50 and RM30 per show are available for purchase. For ticket admission and more information, please contact Ms Jane Lai of Sri Pelancongan Sabah at 088-232121 or Ms Shirley Teo of Sabah Tourism Board at 088-212121, e-mail info@sabahtourism.com or visit the event website www.sabahfest.com / www.sabahtourism.com This event is brought to the public by Sabah Tourism Board and is organised by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd. Source : Borneo Post