The Island Of Langkawi

Langkawi Island is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, about 30 km off the coast of northwest Malaysia. The islands are part of Malaysia’s Kedah state, but are adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of about 45000, the only other inhabited island is near Pulau Tuba.

Langkawi is located north of the Strait of Malacca in the south of the Andaman Sea near the border between Malaysia and Thailand. Only a few miles north lies the neighbouring Thai island of Ko Tarutao. The largest island of the city on the main island, east Kuah.

Langkawi is the highest point Gunung Raya, rising to 890 m above sea level on the main island of the centre-east.

The islands of Langkawi consists of 104 islands with a total area of approximately 528 square kilometres (204 square meters).

According to a theory of continental drift, the huge mass of GONDWANA divided into smaller areas such as Africa, Australia, India and Langkawi 500 million years ago during the Cambrian age. Slopes in the northwest of the island of Langkawi (including Mt Machincang) are formed during the drift of continents.

The Suspension Bridge In Geopark Langkawi Island Pictures

The name “Langkawi” seems to be linked to the kingdom of Langkasuka, which focuses on contemporary Kedah. The historical record are rare, but a Chinese Liang dynasty record (c. 500 AD) refers to the kingdom “Langgasu” as in the 1st century AD. “Langkawi,” Eagle Island, may not be noted, and it is indeed a great wealth of eagles in the region. In Kuah, the capital, is a large monument eagle Eagle Square, which commemorates the origin of the name of Langkawi.

Langkawi ultimately under the influence of the Sultanate of Kedah, Kedah, but was conquered in 1821 by Siam and Langkawi. The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 be transferred to the British, who held by the state to independence, with the exception of a brief period of rule in Thailand under the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. Thai influences remain visible in the culture and food of Langkawi, while the Thai is still in the lot on the island.

The island of Langkawi has recently been re-brand “LANGKAWI Geopark” to better reflect the island as recogition world geopark by UNESCO (June 1, 2007). Three of the main components are Geopark Mt Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Geoforest Park and Tasik Dayang BUNTING Pulau (island of the pregnant girl Lake).

Sheltered by mountains backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi escape the winter monsoon North fully and enjoy a sunny sky when the eastern provinces are flooded. In combination with white sandy beaches, lush jungle foliage and steep mountains – but hampered by the inaccessibility – the island was once described as “Malaysia’s best-kept secret.”

Langkawi remained a sleepy backwater until 1987, when the island was granted tax-exempt status with the aim of promoting tourism. Then the island of the airport has improved and ferry links have been increased.

Today, in competition with nearby Langkawi Penang for the title of Malaysia’s largest tourist attraction. Resorts and 5-star hotels online and beaches, the winter high season, direct flights to the country as far away as Europe and Japan.

http://www.stuckincustoms.com

In addition to the exemption from taxation, the beach and an eagle, another attraction in Langkawi, the cable car to the summit of Gunung Mat Cincang at 705m above sea Galeria Perdana a collection of more 2500 Gift of the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Langkawi is affected by the mild west monsoon (May-september), and during the diving is possible at Pulau Payar, water clarity tend to be poor.

From Kuah, there are ferry links to Satun in southern Thailand, Penang, Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis. Langkawi International Airport and the port of Telok Ewa located on the west coast. AirAsia flies from Bangkok to Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur. The whole island has a road network.

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Satay

From Wikipedia & Malaysiana1.

Satay (also spelt sate) is a Malaysian dish often called Malaysian Kebab.

Satay is of Johor origin, and is popular in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

It is sold by street vendors as well as restaurants in Malaysia and Indonesia, and is almost always served in indigenous Malaysian ceremonies such as birthday parties and weddings, as well as religious festivals (Muslim, Christian and Hindu).

Japan has a dish which is believed to be derived from satay, called Yakitori. Satay is also found in South Africa which has a large indigenous Malaysian community from Johor called the Cape Malays.

Turmeric is often used to marinate satay and gives it a characteristic yellow colour.

Satay is served with a spicy peanut sauce dip, plus slivers of onions and cucumbers.

From Wikipedia:

Satay (pronounced /ˈsæteɪ/ SA-tay) or sate is a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meats, served with a sauce.^[1] Satay may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, fish, tofu, or other meats; the more authentic version uses skewers from the midrib of the coconut leaf, although bamboo skewers are often used. These are grilled or barbecued over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings.

Satay may have originated in Java or Sumatra, Indonesia.^[2] Satay is available almost anywhere in Indonesia, where it has become a national dish.^[3] It is also popular in many other Southeast Asian countries, such as: Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, the southern Philippines and in the Netherlands, as Indonesia is a former Dutch colony.

Satay is a very popular delicacy in Indonesia; Indonesia’s diverse ethnic groups’ culinary art (see Cuisine of Indonesia) have produced a wide variety of satays. In Indonesia, satay can be obtained from a travelling satay vendor, from a street-side tent-restaurant, in an upper-class restaurant, or during traditional celebration feasts. In Malaysia, satay is a popular dish - especially during celebrations - and can be found throughout the country. Close analogues are yakitori from Japan, shish kebab from Turkey, chuanr from China and sosatie from South Africa.

Turmeric is a compulsory ingredient used to marinate satay, which gives the dish its characteristic yellow colour. Meats commonly used include beef, mutton, pork, venison, fish, shrimp, squid, chicken, rabbit and even tripe. Some have also used more exotic meats, such as turtle, crocodile, horse, lizard, and snake meat.

Satay may be served with a spicy peanut sauce dip, or peanut gravy, slivers of onions and cucumbers, and ketupat (rice cakes).

Pork satay can be served in a pineapple-based satay sauce or cucumber relish. An Indonesian version uses a soy-based dip.

Satay is not the same as the Vietnamese condiment sate, which typically includes ground chili, onion, tomato, shrimp, oil, and nuts. Vietnamese sate is commonly served alongside noodle and noodle-soup dishes.

Want to know more about satay...go to this link...http://www.j2kfm.com

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Taman Negara, Mulu

Taman Negara Mulu

Jika bandar raya Kuching gah dengan saki baki bangunan lama peninggalan silam era pemerintahan James Brook, Taman Negara Mulu (TNM) pula menyimpan khazanah keajaiban alam yang tidak terjangkau dek fikiran manusia.

Berkeluasan 52,865 hektar, TNM terkenal dengan gua prasejarah yang menawarkan pengunjung satu pakej kembara dan pengalaman menarik yang pasti tidak mudah dilupakan. Sebelas tahun lalu, TNM mendapat pengiktirafan Tapak Warisan Dunia oleh Pertubuhan Pendidikan, Sains dan Kebudayaan Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (UNESCO).

Penulis berpeluang mendekati keajaiban alam itu bersama peserta program Sarawak Update & Travel Mart 2010, baru-baru ini. Program yang dianjurkan Lembaga Penggalakan Pelancongan Malaysia (LPPM) Sarawak bersama Tourism Malaysia Sarawak ini bertujuan menyemarakkan lagi pencapaian sektor ekonomi industri pelancongan di Bumi Kenyalang.

Sepanjang di sana, kami diiringi Timbalan Pengarah Pelancongan Sarawak, Rizal Mas dan empat pegawainya, David Ateng Dominick, Siti Zakiah Minggu, Nazasheera Shafiee dan Beatrice Nuing meneroka gedung arkeologi di TNM, antaranya Gua Rusa, Gua Lang, Gua Air Jernih dan Gua Angin.

Paling menonjol, Gua Rusa yang sejak sekian lama menjadi antara koleksi tumpuan eksplorasi terhebat yang mampu memukau setiap pengunjung. Sepanjang laluan hampir 30 minit menghala ke pintu masuk Gua Rusa, kemudahan pelantar kayu disediakan bagi menjamin keselesaan pejalan kaki, menjadikan perjalanan tidak terasa penatnya.

Ikuti keistimewaan Gua Rusa serta tiga lagi rangkaian gua paling menarik di TNM.

Gua Rusa

Sebagai mukadimah, perjalanan ke Gua Rusa disajikan dengan suara gemersik unggas kecil dan burung penghuni setia hutan simpan kekal ini. Bagi penggemar kembara alam flora dan fauna, masa yang ada dirasakan terlalu singkat untuk menghayati kehijauan rimba. Percaya atau tidak jika dikatakan setiap langkah menyusuri laluan hutan ini, pasti ada saja objek yang mahu dirakamkan untuk koleksi fotografi.

Gua batu kapur ini dianggarkan seluas 174 meter lebar dengan ketinggian mencecah 122 meter dan berada dalam kelompok carta gua terbesar di dunia. Lebih menakjubkan apabila dikatakan gua ini mampu memuatkan lebih daripada lima bangunan besar!

Jurupandu pelancong, Richard Burong, berkata suatu masa dulu, Gua Rusa dikatakan sentiasa dipenuhi kawanan rusa yang berkumpul untuk mendapatkan air garam mineral. Secara berjenaka, beliau berkata, pemburu boleh memilih apa saja saiz rusa yang dikehendaki, pasti tidak akan pulang dengan tangan kosong.

“Sebab itu, pemburu dan penduduk setempat menamakan lokasi ini sempena hidupan liar berkenaan,” katanya.

Itulah kisah yang disampaikan turun-temurun mengenai asal usul Gua Rusa, namun paling menarik bukannya cerita mengenai rusa itu, sebaliknya keindahan persekitaran gua ini yang begitu mengasyikkan.

Imej popular, Abe Lincoln

Sebaik memulakan perjalanan masuk ke dalam, lampu suluh dihidupkan tertumpu ke arah dinding batu. Tatkala menjengah masuk, kelihatan pembentukan batu kapur seakan ukiran indah yang tiada penghujungnya. Gua Rusa menampilkan sudut geologi mempesonakan, termasuk pembentukan tiga lapisan batu kapur.

Pada sebelah petang, satu lagi tarikan istimewa menanti pengunjung ketika berkumpul semula di depan pintu masuk. Jangan terkejut dengan bunyi bingit putaran ‘taufan hitam’ yang sebenarnya adalah kawanan kelawar spesies ‘Chaerephon plicata’ yang terbang keluar masuk berulang kali.

Acara ‘persembahan’ oleh kumpulan kelawar ini dianggap kemuncak kembara buat pelancong yang menjejakkan kaki di sini. Bayangkan keadaannya apabila lebih tiga juta kelawar terbang berulang alik hampir satu jam untuk mencari makanan di atas kepala anda.

Untuk menyaksikan pemandangan menakjubkan ini, pengunjung dinasihatkan berada di luar gua sekitar jam 6 hingga 7 malam. Suasana menakjubkan ini nyata memberi dimensi baru dalam penaklukan kembara anda sepanjang kunjungan di Bumi Kenyalang.

Gua Lang

Jika masih mempunyai stamina dan inginkan cabaran seterusnya, paling hampir dengan Gua Rusa adalah Gua Lang yang menjanjikan kelainan dari sudut perspektif gua batu kapur. Walaupun lebih kecil berbanding Gua Rusa, Gua Lang menyajikan kehebatan pembentukan stalaktit dan stalagmit yang luar biasa.

Setiap titisan air yang mengalir di celah dinding gua mengandungi molekul halus debu batu kapur yang mengambil masa ratusan tahun untuk bercantum.

Gua Angin

Masuk hari kedua, kembara kami diteruskan dengan menaiki bot merentas Sungai Melinau. Sepanjang 15 minit di atas bot, pengunjung dapat merasakan kesegaran udara di samping menghayati kehijauan ekosistem hutan simpan yang pantas menyuntik ketenangan.

Sebaik berdiri di depan pintu Gua Angin, pengunjung dapat merasa hembusan angin segar dari celah ruang sempit dinding gua. Rasa ingin tahu mendorong penulis menjelajah isi perut gua batu kapur ini, perlahan-lahan menuruni anak tangga sambil mengamati keindahan yang ada.

Gua Air Jernih

Gua ini mempunyai terowong sejauh 75 kilometer, iaitu yang terpanjang di Asia Tenggara. Laman sistem gua bawah tanah ini meliputi hutan hujan tropika yang luas. Paling menarik, sebuah jambatan dibina buat pengunjung menyaksikan aliran air sejuk mengalir keluar ke Sungai Melinau.

Kembara di Gua Air Jernih tidak lengkap rasanya jika tidak membasahkan diri. Sambil berenang dapat juga menyaksikan kehijauan alam serta merasai kedinginan air Sungai Melinau.

Sumber artikel : http//www.bharian.com.my
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Senjata Tradisional : Keris

eris merupakan senjata pendek yang digunakan oleh orang Melayu sejak zaman keagungan pemerintahan Kesultanan Melayu, lebih daripada 800 tahun yang lampau terutamanya pendekar, pahlawan serta kalangan pembesar istana. Satu alat kebesaran bagi raja-raja atau lambang kekuasaan atau kedaulatan. Keris mempunyai dua belah mata, melebar dipangkal dan tirus dihujungnya serta tajam. Terdapat mata keris yang lurus dan berlok-lok dengan keindahan pamor serta hulu yang menarik dan juga sarungnya.

Sang Guna adalah orang pertama dizaman Sultan Muhammad Syah Melaka telah membuat keris tempa panjang, berukuran tiga jengkal. Unsur logam campuran besi dan tahi bintang adalah bahan utama membuat keris tersebut.

Hulu Keris

Ulu keris berukuran sepanjang lebih kurang 15sm. berkeadaan membengkok dibahagian tengahnya seperti bentuk kepala tongkat. Diukir dengan tangan sepenuhnya dan mempunyai nilai estetika Melayu yang diperbuat daripada perdu atau tunjang kayu (kemuning, tegor, tempinis, sena,celagi, petai belalang, boai, lebang dan kayu hitam), gading gajah, tanduk, gigi ikan paus, emas, perak, besi dan kemor (sejenis batu karang).

Pelbagai nama telah diberikan seperti Anak Ayam Teleng, Anak Ayam Sejuk, Jawa Demam, Kakaktua, Tapak Kuda dan Pekaka. Penjelmaan rekabentuknya menggambarkan kekuatan dan kekuasaan senjata tersebut yang bersifat raksaksa dan garuda. Ragamhias hulu keris kebanyakannya bermotifkan bunga timbul, awan larat, bunga tebuk, ketam guri, bentuk fauna dan juga bentuk dewa Hindu dengan imbasan wajah manusia.

Pendongkok

Dikenali juga sebagai dokok, pendongkok, dulang-dulang keris atau memendak. Diperbuat dari logam, tembaga, perak atau emas. Berbentuk seperti bunga dan berukiran bunga dawai pintal yang bertatahkan batu permata atau ukiran biasa sahaja. Pendongkok dipasangkan melekap pada pangkal hulu keris dibahagian permukaan ganja.

Bilah Keris

Keris mempunyai berbagai-bagai bentuk dan ukuran. Kebanyakan keris terdiri dari jenis yang berlok, samada tiga, lima, tujuh atau sembilan dan lurus. Terdapat juga keris yang panjang berukuran 61sm. dengan matanya berbentuk mata pedang seperti Keris Sundang dan ada yang sehingga 29 lok. Tiga aspek penting mata keris adalah rupa awan larat dan corak pamor, bentuknya dan corak berombak yang wujud dari campuran logam dan nikel.

Keris juga diibaratkan sebagai insan, sesetengah Empu atau pembuat keris memasukkan unsur magis atau penunggu kepada senjata itu, supaya ianya lebih memberikan kekuasaan.

Paksi Ganja Dagu Kepala Cicak Leher Perut Sepit Rotan Ekor Kepit Aring

Gandik Kembang kacang Belalai Gajah Bibir Gajah Rigi Janggut Tulang Keris Hujung Keris Tuntung Keris

Galeri Keris
Hulu Keris
Sampir Keris
Pandai Besi

Sampir dan Batang

Sampir adalah sarung dibahagian ganja dan aring keris. Berbentuk seperti sampan melintang pada kedudukan keris. Diperbuat dari jenis kayu sama seperti hulu keris juga dan sesetengah sampir diukir pada kayunya atau disaluti emas, perak atau tidak diukir langsung, hanya corak urat kayu tersebut telah menampakkan keindahannya.

Batang merupakan sarung kepada bilah keris ia lurus serta agak meruncing sedikit pada hujungnya. Diperbuat daripada kayu dan diukir dengan ukiran bermotifkan flora, tetapi terdapat juga yang tidak diukir. Kebiasaannya pada hujung batang ini akan disarungkan dengan buntut yang diperbuat dari perak, emas, tanduk atau gading.

Jenis Keris

Berbagai jenis keris terdapat di Nusantara Melayu dan kegunaannya selain sebagai senjata, regalia terhadap Raja Melayu dan perubatan.

Keris Sepukal Keris Sempena Keris Cerita Keris Picit Keris Tajung Keris Sulok Belingkong - lok tiga Keris Apit Liang - lok lima Keris Jenoya - lok tujuh Keris Rantai - mempunyai sembilan hingga 21 lok Keris Andus - mempunyai 23 hingga 29 lok Sumber Artikel : http://malaysiana.pnm.my

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Chap Goh Meh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Lantern Festival. (Discuss)

Chap Goh Meh or Tzap Goh Mei (Chinese: 十五暝; pinyin: shí wǔ míng; literally "fifteen night") represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year period as celebrated by Chinese migrant communities. The term is from the Hokkien dialect and refers to the fifteenth day of the first month, which is the occasion of the first full moon of the New Year.

The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan and Kue Keranjang. In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival or the Shang Yuan Festival. In Southeast Asia, however, it coincides with the Chinese Valentine's Day.^[1] It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss tangerines into the sea, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up – a custom that originated in Penang, Malaysia. In the past, this was also the only day that unmarried ladies could be seen with their partners.

credit to : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chap_Goh_Meh

Lantern Festival

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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For the festival associated with mooncakes sometimes called Lantern Festival, see Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Festival (simplified Chinese: 元宵节; traditional Chinese: 元宵節; pinyin: Yuánxiāojié) or Shang Yuan Festival (simplified Chinese: 上元节; traditional Chinese: 上元節; pinyin: Shàngyuánjié) in China or Chap Goh Meh (Chinese: 十五暝; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: cha̍p-gō-mê; literally "the fifteen night") Festival in Malaysia and Singapore or Yuen
Siu Festival in Hong Kong, or "Tết Thượng Nguyên" or "Tết Nguyên Tiêu"(Vietnamese: Tết Nguyên tiêu) in Vietnam; is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the Chinese calendar, the last day of the lunisolar Chinese New Year celebration. It is not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is sometimes also known as the "Lantern Festival" in locations such as Singapore and Malaysia. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns (simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜; traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎; pinyin: cāidēngmí). It officially ends the Chinese New Year celebrations.

In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones; in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs. For example, lanterns are now often made in shapes of animals.

In some region and countries, this festival is also regarded as the Chinese version of St. Valentine's Day, a day celebrating love and affection between lovers in Chinese tradition and culture.

Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Origin legends 1.2 Early practices 1.3 6th century and afterwards 2 References 3 External links

[edit] History

The first month of the Chinese calendar is called yuan month and in ancient times people called night xiao, therefore the day is called Yuan Xiao Festival in China. The fifteenth day is the first night to see a full moon. According to Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate. At this time, people will try to solve puzzles on lanterns, eat yuanxiao (元宵) (glutinous rice ball) and enjoy a family reunion.

[edit] Origin legends

There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival, however, it is likely to have had something to do with celebrating and cultivating positive relationships between people, families, nature and the higher beings that were believed to be responsible for bringing or returning the light each year.

One legend tells us that it was a time to worship Taiyi, the God of Heaven in ancient times. The belief was that the God of Heaven controlled the destiny of the human world. He had sixteen dragons at his beck and call and he decided when to inflict drought, storms, famine or pestilence upon human beings. Beginning with Qinshihuang, the first emperor to unite the country, all the emperors ordered splendid ceremonies each year. The emperor would ask Taiyi to bring favorable weather and good health to him and his people.

Wudi of the Han Dynasty directed special attention to this event. In 104 BCE, he proclaimed it to be one of the most important celebrations and the ceremony would last throughout the night.

Another legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism. Tianguan is the Taoist god responsible for good fortune. His birthday falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It is said that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment, so followers prepare various kinds of activities during which they pray for good fortune.

Another legend associates the Lantern Festival with an ancient warrior name Lan Moon, who led a rebellion against the tyranical king in ancient China. He was killed in the storming of the city and the successful rebels commemorated the festival in his name.

Yet another common legend dealing with the origins of the Lantern Festival speaks of a beautiful crane that flew down to earth from heaven. After it landed on earth it was hunted and killed by some villagers. This angered the Jade Emperor in Heaven because the crane was his favorite one. Therefore, he planned a storm of fire to destroy the village on the fifteenth lunar day. The Jade Emperor's daughter warned the inhabitants of her father’s plan to destroy their village. The village was in turmoil because nobody knew how they could escape their imminent destruction. However, a wise man from another village suggested that every family should hang red lanterns around their houses, set up bonfires on the streets, and explode firecrackers on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth lunar days. This would give the village the appearance of being on fire to the Jade Emperor. On the fifteenth lunar day, troops sent down from heaven whose mission was to destroy the village saw that the village was already ablaze, and returned to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor. Satisfied, the Jade Emperor decided not to burn down the village. From that day on, people celebrate the anniversary on the fifteenth lunar day every year by carrying lanterns on the streets and exploding firecrackers and fireworks.

Another legend about the origins of Lantern Festival involves a maid named Yuan-Xiao. In the Han Dynasty, Mr. Eastern was a favorite adviser of the emperor. One winter day, he went to the garden and heard a little girl crying and getting ready to jump into a well to commit suicide. Mr. Eastern stopped her and asked why. She said she was Yuan-Xiao, a maid in the emperor's palace and that she never had a chance to see her family since she started working there. If she could not have the chance to show her filial piety in this life, she would rather die. Mr. Eastern promised to find a way to reunite her with her family. Mr. Eastern left the palace and set up a fortune-telling stall on the street. Due to his reputation, many people asked for their fortunes to be told but every one got the same prediction - a calamitous fire on the fifteenth lunar day. The rumor spread quickly.

Everyone was worried about the future and asked Mr. Eastern for help. Mr. Eastern said that on the thirteenth lunar day, the God of Fire would send a fairy in red riding a black horse to burn down the city. When people saw the fairy they should ask for her mercy. On that day, Yuan-Xiao pretended to be the red fairy. When people asked for her help, she said that she had a copy of a decree from the God of Fire that should be taken to the emperor. After she left, people went to the palace to show the emperor the decree which stated that the capital city would burn down on the fifteenth. The emperor asked Mr. Eastern for advice. Mr. Eastern said that the God of Fire liked to eat tangyuan (sweet dumplings). Yuan-Xiao should cook tangyuan on the fifteenth lunar day and the emperor should order every house to prepare tangyuan to worship the God of Fire at the same time. Also, every house in the city should hang red lantern and explode fire crackers. Lastly, everyone in the palace and people outside the city should carry their lanterns on the street to watch the lantern decorations and fireworks. The Jade Emperor would be deceived and everyone would avoid the disastrous fire.

The emperor happily followed the plan. Lanterns were everywhere in the capital city on the night of the fifteenth lunar day. People were walking on the street. Fire crackers kept making lots of noise. It looked like the entire city was on fire. Yuan-Xiao's parents went into the palace to watch the lantern decorations and were reunited with their daughter. The emperor decreed that people should do the same thing every year. Since Yuan-Xiao cooked the best tanyuan, people called the day Yuan-Xiao Festival.

[edit] Early practices

Young people were chaperoned in the streets in hopes of finding love. Matchmakers acted busily in hopes of pairing couples. The brightest lanterns were symbolic of good luck and hope. As time has passed, the festival no longer has such implications.

Those who do not carry lanterns often enjoy watching informal lantern parades. In addition to eating tangyuan (simplified Chinese: 汤圆; traditional Chinese: 湯圓; pinyin: tāngyuán), another popular activity at this festival is guessing lantern riddles (which became part of the festival during the Tang Dynasty), which often contain messages of good fortune, family reunion, abundant harvest, prosperity and love.

[edit] 6th century and afterwards

Until the Sui Dynasty in the sixth century, Emperor Yangdi invited envoys from other countries to China to see the colorful lighted lanterns and enjoy the gala performances.

By the beginning of the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century, the lantern displays would last three days. The emperor also lifted the curfew, allowing the people to enjoy the festive lanterns day and night. It is not difficult to find Chinese poems which describe this happy scene.

In the Song Dynasty, the festival was celebrated for five days and the activities began to spread to many of the big cities in China. Colorful glass and even jade were used to make lanterns, with figures from folk tales painted on the lanterns.

However, the largest Lantern Festival celebration took place in the early part of the 15th century. The festivities continued for ten days. Emperor Chengzu had the downtown area set aside as a center for displaying the lanterns. Even today, there is a place in Beijing called Dengshikou. In Chinese, deng means lantern and shi is market. The area became a market where lanterns were sold during the day. In the evening, the local people would go there to see the beautiful lighted lanterns on display.

Today, the displaying of lanterns is still a major event on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month throughout China. Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, for example, holds a lantern fair each year in Culture Park. During the Lantern Festival, the park is a virtual ocean of lanterns. Many new designs attract large numbers of visitors. The most eye-catching lantern is the Dragon Pole. This is a lantern in the shape of a golden dragon, spiraling up a 27-meter-high pole, spewing fireworks from its mouth. Cities such as Hangzhou and Shanghai have adopted electric and neon lanterns, which can often be seen beside their traditional paper or wooden counterparts

credit to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantern_Festival






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GONG XI FA CHAI

colours of life : 1Malaysia festival
Lion Dance at Low Yat Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur
picture : collection

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