KICKING BACK IN KELANTAN
Far apart from the hustle and bustle of the heavily urbanised cities of Malaysia,
there lies a humble and rustic agrarian state that hasn’t lost its old world charm.
Kelantan, a place loved by many for its simple and tranquil attributes, offers an
abundance of quiet breezes, lush paddy fields, rustic fishing villages and
casuarina-lined beaches.
Masses flock to this enchanting state for a taste of the relatively untamed and
untouched side of a rapidly progressing nation. 2015 brings a surge of life to
this beautiful state with the ongoing Malaysia Year of Festivals, or MyFEST
2015 tourism campaign’s flurry of exciting activities and intriguing events that
are simply not to be missed. But first, here’s a little introductory on one of
Malaysia’s most prominent states this year.
Kelantan is positioned in the north-east of Peninsular Malaysia. It is bordered
by Narathiwat Province of Thailand to the north, Terengganu to the south-east,
Perak to the west, and Pahang to the south. To the north-east of Kelantan is
the South China Sea. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic
honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ("The Blissful Abode").
To top it all off, Kelantan is also home to some of the most ancient
archaeological discoveries in Malaysia, including several prehistoric aboriginal
settlements.
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Due to Kelantan's relative isolation and largely rural lifestyle, Kelantanese
culture differs somewhat from Malay culture in the rest of the peninsula; this is
reflected in the cuisine, arts, and the peculiar Kelantanese Malay dialect, which
is unintelligible even for some speakers of standard Malay.
With such a unique culture and history, surely Kelantan is a remarkable state
honing a strong position as one of Malaysia’s greatest attraction points for
tourists both local and international alike. Here are just a few of the highly
anticipated events in store for those dropping by Kelantan this year.
Kelantan International Wau Festival 2015
25-30 May 2015 - Pantai Genting, Tumpat, Kelantan
Wau, which is the term used to describe a giant kite found originally in the state
of Kelantan, is celebrated in this exciting family friendly festival. Each Wau is
handmade and beautifully decorated by skilled kite makers. From Wau Bulan
or Moon Kite, the biggest type of kite, to Wau Kucing and Wau Merak, watch
an assortment of kites take to the skies in this festival.
In 2014 as many as 33 participants from 16 countries including United States
of America, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Macau, China and others.
Local participants from Malaysia numbered 120 people. This programme is
expected to boost the community working in the hospitality industry, food as
well as Small and Medium Industries society within Malaysia in general, and
specifically Kelantan. Now, fans of the annual festival prepare once more for
an occasion of epic proportions. Be sure to drop by and join the fun of the
Kelantan International Wau Festival 2015.
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International Wayang Kulit Festival
15 April - 15 May 2015
Asia has a long line of shadow puppetry in its historical arts and performances.
Wayang Kulit was one of the most major forms of ancient entertainment. Tales
were told through the magic of shadows and narration. This carnival makes its
inaugural debut in Malaysia to educate and preserve the enchanting and
mysterious ways of the Wayang Kulit.
It will initially involve three countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
Each country will be showcasing all its home-grown famous shadow puppet
shows. For Malaysia, its shadow puppets will be brought in from Kelantan,
Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.
Indulge in rich cultural knowledge and intriguing facts of history with the age old
story telling platform of Wayang Kulit. The primary objectives of the
International Wayang Kulit Festival includes recalling the glorious art of
Malaysian shadow puppets from Malaysia in general and Kelantan, to
showcase to the rest of the world promoting the art of shadow puppetry in the
industry, conversation of the arts and treasures of the state and the country
which is gradually disappearing in modern times, encourage the younger
generation to continue to love our heritage and show the current generation the
various types of puppets from various countries especially puppets from
Kelantan.
Karnival Silat Nusantara
6-7 April 2015, MPKB-BRI Hall, Kelantan
Silat is the national martial arts of Malaysia. Its precision and effectiveness has
ranked it as one of the top deadliest martial arts in the world. A fusion of
traditional grace and brutal technique forms a fighting style unlike any other,
unique in every way.
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Now you can learn more about this intriguing martial art at the Karnival Silat
Nusantara. Held for the second year in Kelantan, this event features 400
exponents of the silat or Malay martial arts from Malaysia and around the world.
Events include performances by various silat centres, exhibitions, self-defence
seminars and martial arts demonstrations.
These are just a few of the primary events being held in Kelantan, on top of the
various exciting activities that are available in the state all year long. So drop
by Kelantan and experience Malaysia like you never experienced it before this
year!
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For more information or enquiries, please contact Visit Malaysia Year
Secretariat, at 03-8891 7000 or log on to www.myfest2015.com.my.
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