Marking the 40th anniversary, Penang recently hosted its bi-annual international dragon boat festival in the weekend of 7th – 8th December 2019 at the Teluk Bahang Dam. There were 14 countries from all over the world, including Malaysia. A total of 1,600 participants of 36 different teams at the event. Each dragon boats measure 10 metres long for 20 rowers sitting in pairs with a drummer at the front keeping the rowers in sync. In the early years, each dragon boat was elabora

“Chneah Hoay” is a local Chinese tradition dating back to 1844 on the 14th day of Chinese New Year. This annual ceremonial tradition was recently held on 18th February 2019, year of the pig of the twelfth Chinese zodiac sign. The site is hidden but well known to the locals. History has it that there were three Hakka sworn brothers who were sailing to Sumatra in mid-18th century for a better life when their boat was blown off-course and landed on a small island, now known as P

Penang is rich in culture and tradition. One of most celebrated festival in Penang with over a million devotees descending into this tiny island of Penang state, Malaysia is the Tamil festival – Thaipusam. The word derives from the Tamil month of “Thai”, whereas “pusam” is the name of the star being observed at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the birthday of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war, son of Shiva and Parvati on the occasion when Parv

“Kew Ong Yah” or the Nine Emperor Gods festival is widely celebrated in Penang among the Chinese. This is an important Taoist tradition that lasted nine days starting from the eve of the 9th lunar calendar month, which fell on the 8th of October this year. Temples and make-shift sites of the deities hold ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors, sons of Emperor Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan who holds the registrar of Life and Death. The ritual reached its climax on the last day

​Penang Chinese culture is strongly influenced by the Confucian, Buddhism and Taoism tradition. Dating back as early as the 18th century, Penang Chinese ancestors were descendants from Southern China, mostly from the Fujian Province, bringing with them the tradition, culture and philosophy of their homeland. One of the oldest Chinese traditions that is still widely practiced in Penang and at home with my mother is called the “Ancestors’ Day” or the “Tomb Sweeping Day”. In Pen