LIST OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Entire list of cultural arts includes all categories and states
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TARIAN BHARATANATYAM (PULAU PINANG)
<p>Tarian Bharatanatyam is a distinguished Tamil traditional dance that originates in Tamil Nadu, India. Meanwhile, the term ‘bharatanatyam’ is a combination of four syllables: ‘bha’ (bhava for expression), ‘ra’ (raga, music), ‘ta’ (tala, rhythm) and ‘natyam’ (dramatic dance art), created by an Indian dance teacher, E. Krishna Iyer, in the mid-1930s. And it was improved by another dance teacher, Rukminidevi Arundale.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Their dance techniques adhere to those mentioned in the text of Natyashastra, the official manual of traditional arts (drama, dance and music) in India, written by Bharata Muni about 2500 years ago. </p><p><br></p><p>Historically, bharatanatyam was danced only by temples girls, the devadasi. These girls’ vow was to abstain from marriage for the rest of their lives, and they danced the bharatanatyam in the temple to show their devotion to God.</p><div><br></div> ...
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MASAK LEMAK ASAK LEMAK CILI API SIPUT SEDUT (BELITUNG) CAMPUR BATANG KELADI
<p>Negeri Sembilan, also known as Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, is a state located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The people of Negeri Sembilan are originally from the Minangkabau tribe in West Sumatra, Indonesia, who started migrating here in the 14th century. This community group then settled in nine areas of Johol, Jelebu, Klang, Sungei Ujong, Naning, Rembau, Jelai, Segamat, and Pasir Besar, then formed a federation known as Negeri Sembilan.</p><p>In terms of traditional dishes, Negeri Sembilan is famous for its Gulai Lemak Chili Api or also known as "masak lomak lado api." This dish is a symbol of Negeri Sembilan's traditional Malay cuisine and comes from the influence of Minangkabau. It is often prepared using ingredients such as fish, snails, chicken, vegetables, and smoked meat. Thus, Masak Lemak Cili Api Siput Sedut (Belitung) Mixed with Yam Stem is very popular because of its rich and spicy taste, making it one of the iconic foods in this state.</p><div><br></div> ...
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DONDANG SAYANG
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4e1d4914-7fff-0c4d-ec61-85898821bcdd"><span style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; border-color: initial; overflow: hidden; width: 539px; height: 306px;"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcTt_-HK1v3ETF3Dsa9AK9w9IgB-Ts6BpzwCjBHmxMSCnEY2d3eKNMw_SyHRl1HvefnYEN3ul6oV4wKBTFWS2Deb91HncpCdGxXiui89RIAV0nVXGdca6mldhQIIo3OM8Ifx6NRQN8FrzGG1o9PZvs?key=_cjn96fqh7otXPVc7PS8Qw" width="539" height="358.2634758581932" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:-26.131737929096612px;"></span></span></p><p>Photo 1: Dondang Sayang Performance</p><p>Source: Department of National Heritage</p><p>Dondang Sayang is a cherished traditional Malay performing art that continues to thrive among the Malay, Baba Nyonya, Chetti, and Portuguese communities of Melaka. The term “dondang” denotes the act of entertaining, while “sayang” connotes love or affection—thus, Dondang Sayang may be loosely translated as “songs of love.” This unique art form interweaves melodious antiphonal singing with poetic quatrains known as pantun, typically performed in a call-and-response format between a male and female vocalist.</p><p>Historically, Dondang Sayang is believed to have its roots in the royal court traditions of the Melaka Sultanate during the 15th century. It was originally a form of praise and poetic homage, performed to honour the grandeur of the sultan and to welcome visiting foreign dignitaries. After the fall of the sultanate, the tradition was preserved by aristocrats and cultural enthusiasts who upheld its artistic and poetic spirit. Over time, it evolved into a community-based folk tradition, becoming a staple form of entertainment at weddings, social gatherings, and public festivals.</p><p>A popular folktale surrounding the rise of Dondang Sayang tells of a figure named Wan Benai, who is said to have serenaded Sang Nila Utama with poetic verses of love and longing in the Dondang Sayang style during a picnic at Tanjung Bemban. The performance, accompanied by nobles and their wives, attracted the attention of nearby villagers, who began to join in by echoing the rhythm and singing in response. This communal participation is said to have played a pivotal role in popularising the art form among the masses.</p><p>Beyond entertainment, Dondang Sayang also functions as a form of lyrical balladry, expressing themes of affection, yearning, social commentary, or humour. The core of the performance lies in the singers’ wit, poetic agility, and improvisational skill, as they craft and respond to pantun in real time. This makes Dondang Sayang not only an aesthetic performance but also an intellectually stimulating oral tradition.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4e1d4914-7fff-0c4d-ec61-85898821bcdd"><span style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; border-color: initial; overflow: hidden; width: 539px; height: 306px;"></span></span></p><p>Today, Dondang Sayang is recognised as an important element of Malaysia’s intangible cultural heritage. It is regularly featured at weddings, cultural festivals, tourism events, and formal gatherings. Various cultural institutions and heritage bodies continue to organise training programmes and competitions to ensure its transmission to younger generations. In recognition of its cultural significance, UNESCO inscribed Dondang Sayang onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 29 November 2018. In Malaysia, the Department of National Heritage identifies four main regional styles: Dondang Sayang Melaka, Dondang Sayang Baba Peranakan, Dondang Sayang Tanjung Penyengat, and Dondang Sayang Pulau Pinang.</p><div><br></div> ...
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ADAT MENYAMBUT MENANTU PEREMPUAN
<p>The phrase 'welcoming daughter-in-law' comes from the actions of some women who are representatives of the groom's side who come to pick up the bride after the newlyweds have been at the bride's house for a few days. </p><p><br></p><p>The term welcoming the daughter-in-law means welcoming the presence of the bride into the family as a new member. This custom is generally done in private in accordance with Islamic teachings, and only involves close family members. The ceremony begins with a prayer of thanksgiving followed by a meal served to the bride's family.</p><div><br></div> ...
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KETUPAT SOTONG
<p>Tuppak sutong or sutong sumbak or sotong bersumbat pulut (glutinous rice stuffed squid) is a Terengganu delicacy of squids stuffed with glutinous rice, boiled in coconut milk. The Terengganu locals call it tuppak sutong or tuppak sumbak’ in their dialect. It is an original dish of the Malay community of Terengganu and Kelantan in the East Coast of Malaysia, which is not found in the West Coast. The Terengganu and Kelantan ttupak sutong are of two variations but equally palatable and appetizing.</p><p><br></p><p>Its main ingredients are large squid and glutinous rice. The rice is to be cooked earlier being stuffed into the squids. Therefore, it needs large squid for good ttupak sutung for the rice stuffing. So smaller squids are not much favoured or befitting as they will shrink and become extremely small for stuffing. </p><p><br></p><p>Initially, tuppak sutong was eaten by the residents of fishing villages of Terengganu. In the squid season, they can be found in abundance in the Terengganu coastal sea waters. In the olden days, where there were no refrigerators, having too many squids, the fishermen had to resort to dumping their catch. To save the squids, their women created this dish. </p><p><br></p><p>Another specialty of ttupak sutong is its unique sauce. The sauce is made from just coconut milk seasoned with a little salt, sugar, onion, fenugreek and ginger, which exudes distinctive aroma and flavour. </p><p><br></p><p>Thanks to the refrigerators, now this cuisine is a hit with the young and old as it can be savoured any season, especially at Aidilfitri festivals in Terengganu.</p><div><br></div> ...
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ADAT RESAM DAN BUDAYA MASYARAKAT MAH MERI KELAHIRAN: SELEPAS BAYI DILAHIRKAN
<p>The Mah Meri tribe, one of the Orang Asli groups in Malaysia, has rich and unique customs in every aspect of their lives, including birth ceremonies and baby naming. The naming process in the Mah Meri culture involves important customs that aim to safeguard the baby's well-being and protect it from the interference of evil spirits.</p><p>The Mah Meri community is one of the Orang Asli groups living in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in the coastal areas of Selangor, such as Carey Island. They belong to the Senoi tribe and are known for their rich cultural heritage, including the internationally renowned art of wooden mask carving.</p><p>As a society that greatly respects the environment, Mah Meri's traditional beliefs are closely related to nature and the spirits of ancestors. They believe that every aspect of life, including birth and naming, has a connection with the spiritual world and requires the blessing and protection of the ancestral spirits.</p><p>In the context of the moment after the birth of a child from a married couple, naming is an important ceremony because the Mah Meri community believes that there is a spiritual power that protects the baby from any threat, including the interference of evil spirits. This process is done with custom and tradition, reflecting their deep belief in the balance between man, nature, and spirit.</p><div><br></div> ...
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TARIAN KANJET TEBENGANG MADANG
<p>Kanjet Tebengang Madang, which means "Dance of the Flying Hornbill," symbolizes the migration of the Dayak Kenyah ethnic group from Apau Kayan to various parts of Borneo, particularly Sarawak. This migration was undertaken in search of a better, safer and more prosperous life. The dance begins with Lemoq, a poetic recitation in the Kenyah language, narrating the long journey they endured during their migration.</p><p><br></p><p>This dance is performed by Kenyah women with graceful and gentle movements, mimicking the hornbill in flight. They dance alongside the male warriors of their community. Just as the hornbill is regarded as a symbol of peace and loyalty to its leader, the Kenyah people also follow and obey the guidance of their leaders with unwavering unity.</p> ...
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ADAT RESAM DAN BUDAYA KAUM BRUNEI: ADAT PERTUNANGAN
<p>In going to the realm of marriage, the Bruneian ethnic community in the state of Sabah has customary procedures and processes that need to be carried out starting from the surveying process up to the bersanding ceremony. However, one of the most important components towards the process is the custom of engagement. The engagement process is a custom full of symbolism and procedures.</p><p><br></p><p>Before the engagement custom is carried out, visits to the girl's house for engagement matters are usually done many times. It starts with the implementation of the custom of surveying which means to investigate more closely about the status of a woman whether she already has or otherwise. After having a positive response, the man will visit the girl's house again to do the second process which is the 'Bajarum' custom, which means proposing and building a word of agreement and an agreement to carry out the customary engagement ceremony. Both of these processes will be carried out first so that the engagement customs planned by both parties go smoothly without any objections.</p><div><br></div> ...
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DATO’ SYED AHMAD JAMAL (SENIMAN NEGARA KE-2)
<p>Dato' Syed Ahmad bin Syed Jamal, born on 19 September 1929 in Bandar Maharani, Muar, Johor, is a distinguished figure in Malaysian art. He received his early education at Sekolah Tambatan Rendah and Sekolah Tambatan Tinggi, followed by Ngee Heng English School, Bukit Zahrah English School, and later at English College, Johor Bahru. He married Datin Hamidah Mohd Noor and had two sons.</p><p>Widely regarded as a pioneer of abstract expressionism in Malaysia, Syed Ahmad Jamal excelled in multiple roles, including artist, art educator, arts administrator, writer, and cultural observer. His contributions over four decades profoundly shaped the development of modern art in the country.</p><div><br></div> ...
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DANGKUNG DANCE
<p>Joget Dangkung is a type of dance that earns its name from the combination of two sounds: "dang" from the beats of the drum and "kung" from the beats of the gong. The drum and gong are the main instruments of the dance.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>This dance is a fusion of Kuala Orang Asli and Malays dances, danced along a tune of drums, violin, gong, and singing. Three musicians, a singer, and four to eight are to dance, depicting the Orang Laut or Kuala Orang Asli (Proto-Malay) sea-fishing way of life.</p><div><br></div> ...
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KUIH LOYANG
<p>Kuih Loyang, also known as Kuih Ros, Kuih Bunga Durian, Kuih Cap, and Kuih Goyang, is a traditional Malaysian snack. In the district of Padang Terap, Kedah, this delicacy is referred to as Kuih Goyang. This name originates from the process of making it: after the mold is dipped into a thin flour batter, it is then dipped into hot oil and shaken until the batter detaches from the mold into the hot oil.</p> ...
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