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Festivals

Possibly nowhere in the world is the calendar as filled with religious holidays as in Malaysia. And possibly nowhere in the world is there an open-door policy like Malaysia's for religious festivals.

Friends of other faiths, whether they be from across the street or across the world, are welcomed into the homes and cultures of celebrants for a short time as their respective religious holiday is observed. Contact the Malaysian Tourist Board, who will set you up with a family in Malaysia if you plan to be around during one of the holidays.

Public Holidays 2005
National Holidays
21 Jan	Hari Raya Qurban
9 & 10 Feb	Chinese New Year
10 Feb	Awal Muharam
1 April	Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
1 May	Labour Day
22 May	Wesak Day
4 June	Birthday of SPB Yang di-Pertuan Agong
31 August	National Day
1 Nov (except W.P Labuan & Sarawak)	Deepavali
3 & 4 Nov	Hari Raya Puasa *
25 Dec	Chrismas Day
State Holidays
1 Jan (except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu)	New Year's Day
16 Jan (Kedah only)	Birthday of Sultan Kedah
22 Jan (Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu only)	Additional Holiday for Hari Raya Qurban
25 Jan (Johor, N.Sembilan, Perak, Penang & Selangor only)	Thaipusam
1 Feb (Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur,Labuan & Putrajaya only)	Federal Territory Day
4 March (Terengganu only)	Anniversary of Installation of Sultan Terengganu
25 March (Sabah & Sarawak only)	Good Friday
30 & 31 March (Kelantan only)	Birthday of Sultan Kelantan
8 April (Johor only)	Birthday of Sultan Johor
15 April (Melaka only)	Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City
19 April (Perak only)	Birthday of Sultan Perak
7 May (Pahang only)	Hol Day of Pahang
17 May (Perlis only)	Birthday of Raja Perlis
30 & 31 May (Federal Territory Labuan & Sabah only)	Harvest Festival
1 & 2 June (Sarawak only )	Dayak Festival
9 July (Penang only)	Birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang
19 July (N. Sembilan only)	Birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Negeri Sembilan
20 July (Terengganu only)	Birthday of Sultan Terengganu
11 August (Johor only)	Hol Day of Almarhum Sultan Johor
1 Sept (Kedah, N.Sembilan & Perlis only)	Israk and Mikraj
10 Sept (Sarawak only)	Birthday of T.Y.T Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak
16 Sept (Sabah only)	Malaysia Day & Birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah
5 Oct (Johor, Kedah & Melaka only)	Awal Ramadan *
8 Oct (Melaka only)	Birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka
21 Oct (Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor & Terengganu only)	Nuzul Quran
24 Oct (Pahang only)	Birthday of Sultan Pahang
17 Dec (Selangor only)	Birthday of Sultan Selangor

* subject to change.

Whenever a public holidays falls on a designated rest day, the next day shall be a public holiday.

Malaysia Festivals

Ramadan (9th month of the Muslim year)

This is the major Islamic event each year. For one month, Muslims cannot eat or drink from sunrise.
Hari Raya Puasa

This marks the end of the month-long fast with three days of celebration. It is the major holiday of the Muslim calendar. During this time people wear new clothes, homes are cleaned and everyone visits everyone else.
Chinese New Year (January-February)

Usually a two-day holiday when dances and parades mark the start of the new year. Families hold open house, businesses traditionally clear their debts, and everyone wishes you a Kong Hee Fatt Choy ( a happy and prosperous new year).
Chap Goh Meh

The 15th day after Chinese New Year when the celebrations officially end.
Thaipusam

A hindu festival in which devotees honour Lord Subramaniam with acts of amazing masochism. In Kuala Lumpur they march in a procession to the Batu Caves carrying kavadis, heavy metal frames decorated with peacock feathers, fruits and flowers. The Kavadis are hung from their bodies with metal hooks and spikes driven in to the flesh. Others pierce their cheeks and tongues with metal skewers, or walk on sandals of nails. In the evening the procession continues with an image of Subramaniam in a temple car.
National Day (31st August)

Celebration of Malaysia’s independence with events all over the country, but particularly in Kuala Lumput where there are parades and a variety of performances in the Lake Gardens.
Moon Cake Festival (September)

Celebration of the overthrow of Mongol warlords in ancient China. People eat moon cakes and light colourful paper lanterns.
Deepavali (November)

This ‘Festival of Lights’ celebrates Rama’s victory over the demon King Ravana. Oil lamps are lit outside hindu homes in honour of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. People in business start a new financial year and families indulge in a pre-dawn oil bath, new clothes and lots of sweets.
Pesta Pulau Pinang (December)

A month-long carnival on Penang Island featuring water events, including dragon-boat racing.


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