I’ve learned much by experiencing local cultures and religious observances in foreign countries. This weekend, Malaysia celebrates two national holidays – Awal Muharram and George Town World Heritage Day.
Awal Muharram
Muharram is “derived from the Arabic word haram, which means forbidden”. During Awal Muharram, Muslims are “forbidden to fight”. It’s a “time of mourning and peace”.
In 2024, Awal Muharram begins on Sunday, 7th July. It signifies “the first month of the Islamic year, coinciding with Al-Hijra – the migration of Prophet Mohammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD.” It’s a “time for self-evaluation – a starting point for change”. During this month, “rewards for good deeds are multiplied, and any wrongdoing is more serious”. Many Muslims fast during the month of Al-Muharram.
To “honor Moses’ rescuing the people of Israel from the Egyptian Pharaoh,” Sunni Muslims – the Islamic majority sect – celebrate the day according to the Sunnah of Mohammad. Rice porridge, bubur asyura, eaten at breakfast is one of several special dishes enjoyed during the celebration.
_____________
“The word ‘Awal’ means beginning in English. The word Muharram is the name of the first month in the Muslim calendar. On the day of Awal Muharram, Muslims in Malaysia celebrate by attending religious activities, singing spiritual songs, and attending religious meetings.”
_____________
In other parts of the world, “Shia Muslims – Islamic minority sect – spend the day mourning, some to the extent of flogging themselves. They mourn to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali,” the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
Malay religious sects include Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists. Muslims comprise about 60 percent of the total Malaysian population.
_____________
“The month of Muharram is steeped in religious and historical significance for Muslims.”
_____________
George Town World Heritage City Day
July 7 is George Town World Heritage City Day, a public holiday celebrating Penang Island – known as the “pearl of the orient“. The city is “proud of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” and the State of Malaysia declared the date a public holiday. On July 7, citizens and visitors celebrate the culture, buildings, heritage, and history of Penang. I’ll be visiting the heritage zones later this month.
The George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site “features Malaysia’s best restored and re-adaptive traditional architecture” – each with a unique story and history. George Town represents a “multitude of heritage trades and arts” operating from shophouses along the oldest roads – Armenian Street, Muntri Street, and Love Lane. The shophouses were “originally built and used by the Indian and Chinese migrant population, who brought influences from their homelands“.
On July 7, 2008, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated World Heritage status to George Town in Penang. The award put a spotlight on the area’s heritage and colonial influences.
Celebrations emphasize “historical and cultural events defining life in George Town and Penang”. The festival lasts several days and includes traditional food, arts, and crafts.
_____________
“UNESCO believes that heritage is legacy from the past – what people live with today, and what they will pass on to future generations.”
_____________
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
“UNESCO identifies, protects, and preserves cultural and natural heritage sites of tremendous value to humanity. Locations designated as World Heritage Sites develop management plans and reporting systems outlining their conservation efforts. They also create plans to protect the site in case of an emergency and preserve local culture and natural heritage through education.”
Beautiful and the food looks amazing!