Final Project's (website) on "Festivities"

Hi, after some time of searching the information on my part, "Festivities" on the final project of Malaysian Culture and Heritage, I have get some pictures, descriptions, and links for it and I have sent the information to our leader, Ah Teh, on last week. On this festivities, I have listed out some important and significant events that symbolize the must have event in Malaysia as below:

1. Hari Raya Puasa

- The most significant celebration for Muslims, it signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The words ‘Hari Raya’ means day of celebration. It is a joyous occasion for Muslims, as it signifies a personal triumph, a victory of self-restraint and abstinence, symbolising purification and renewal. Urbanites make their annual pilgrimage to their hometowns (this is popularly referred to as balik kampung as picture below), to be with parents, relatives and old friends. Thus, cities in Malaysia get relatively quiet during the festive season of Aidilfitri.

2. Chinese New Year

- A time for family reunions, the lion dance, firecrackers, mahjong, mandarin oranges and giving/collecting ang pow, the Lunar New Year - or Chinese New Year (CNY), as it is more commonly known in Malaysia - highlights some of the most fascinating aspects of Chinese tradition and rituals. Celebrated by the Chinese community, Chinese New Year occurs usually during mid-January to mid-February. The festivities are celebrated for 3 days, but as a whole, last for 15 days.

3. Deepavali

- Celebrated by Hindus as the day the evil Narakasura was slain by Lord Krishna. Signifying the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

4. Hari Gawai Dayak

- Celebrated by the Dayak communities in Sarawak. Celebrated mid year on June 1 and 2, though unofficially, the festivities begin during the last week of May and continue through mid-June. which falls on the 1st of June every year, is a day for all Dayak races in Sarawak to celebrate the end of the harvest season. It is a tradition whereby Dayaks will go back to their own village or “kampung” and celebrate Gawai Day together with their families. The way they celebrated Gawai Day is similar to the way the Sabahan etnics celebrate their own harvest festival: have a big feast at night which will last till the next morning.Every Gawai celebration won’t gonna be perfect without a traditional alcoholic drink called Tuak. Tuak is made of rice that were soaked inside a pale of water together with some herbs to produce alcohol. The soaked rice will then be kept for at least 6 months before the celebration comes. Some may even preserved the Tuak for years since the theory stated that the longer the Tuak being preserved, the nicer it is.

5. Rainforest World Music Festival

- Held in Sarawak Cultural Village. Kuching, Sarawak. Organized on every mid year in conjuction with Gawai Dayak Festival. The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.

Above significant festivities are small portion of our Malaysian's festivities. There are still many festivities i dint listed in here as i will focus on these festivities and the others which havent listed in here yet.