LIST OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Entire list of cultural arts includes all categories and states
Search Filters : 426
TARIAN INANG GHENEK
<p>The Inang Ghenek dance evolved from the Mak Inang Kesot dance, performed by crouching (ghenek) until both thighs nearly touch the floor. Inang Ghenek incorporates influences from Arab and Indian cultures, brought through trade connections between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Initially, this dance was predominantly a solo performance; however, over time, it evolved into a group dance performed by women.</p><div><br></div> ...
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LAKSA PENANG
<p>Laksa is a type of noodle soup that is delicious and healthy, as it is rich in protein. With just one sip, the laksa broth provides a taste of fish richness, spiciness, sourness, and sweetness, enhanced by the fragrant aroma of torch ginger and laksa leaves. The chewy and soft rice noodles complete the dish with a source of carbohydrates. This is why laksa is considered a healthy food, compared to other noodle dishes.</p><p><br></p><p>Laksa is a dish that originated from the Peranakan community. It is believed to have been brought to Malaya by traders around the 15th century, and the dish began to adapt to Malay society through the intermarriage of Chinese men and Malay women. Since then, laksa has become increasingly popular. However, when Chinese traders first introduced this dish, laksa noodles were eaten with plain broth. It was when Malay women became the wives of these traders that laksa was modified to suit local tastes.</p><p><br></p><p>The name "laksa" itself is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "ten thousand." The term "ten thousand" refers to the variety of ingredients added to create laksa. The famous Penang Laksa, known for its diverse flavors in the broth, is served with slices of cucumber, salad leaves, eggs, lime, shrimp paste (petis), and bird's eye chili. In some areas around Penang, laksa is served with slices of pineapple and mint leaves. These ingredients make the laksa even more delicious and healthy. Due to its uniqueness and completeness, Penang Laksa is the only Malaysian dish ranked seventh in CNN's 50 Best Foods in the World, due to its well-balanced nutrients and delicious taste.</p><p><br></p><p>The basic ingredients are the same as other laksas in Malaysia. Uniquely, Penang Laksa uses noodles made from either wheat flour or rice flour. To enhance its flavor, shrimp paste or shrimp brain extract is mixed or enjoyed with the mackerel fish broth and other types of fish as additional seasonings.</p><div><br></div> ...
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TARIAN ULE NUGAN
<p>The Tarian Ule Nugan is inspired by the activities involved in rice planting among the Orang Ulu community in Sarawak. It is a routine for the Orang Ulu people to prepare early in the morning before embarking on a journey by boat to their rice fields. Thus, male dancers in this performance usually carry a piece of wood resembling a penugal stick, commonly used for planting rice in highland areas.</p><p><br></p><p>During the rice planting process, while the men use the penugal stick, the women would strike the kerebo bulo, creating rhythmic sounds to ward off bad omens associated with certain bird calls. According to Orang Ulu legends, the sound produced by the kerebo bulo also serves to encourage and inspire the rice’s spirit to grow healthily and yield a good harvest. Beliefs, omens, and signs hold significant meaning in their daily lives as an agrarian society.</p><p><br></p><p>Throughout the rice planting process, the Orang Ulu community helps one another with the task while socializing and sharing laughter to alleviate the exhaustion of work. The men also engage in hunting using blowpipes to gather food to bring back home. With all the daily activities of rice planting carried out successfully, the Orang Ulu farmers return home filled with joy and gratitude.</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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ADAT MANDI TIAN
<p>According to Malay customs, when a wife reaches her seventh month of pregnancy, a traditional ceremonial bath known as mandi tian or kirim perut is performed by the Tok Bidan (traditional midwife). This ritual, which is not obligatory in Islam, is believed to protect a woman experiencing her first pregnancy.</p><div><br></div> ...
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ADAT ISTIADAT KERJA ATAU MENABAL
<p>The custom of working, also known as Menabal, is one of the important traditions in Malaysian society, especially in the context of reign and government. This ceremony is usually performed as an official ceremony in the Malaysian royal system to mark the recognition of someone as a ruler, king or state official. It symbolizes the transfer of power that is legitimate and approved by the people and the nobility. </p><p><br></p><p>The Menabal ceremony usually includes a special ceremony chaired by a religious figure or traditional leader, attended by state dignitaries, royalty, and commoners. This ceremonial process includes several important elements such as reading a prayer, placing a sign of service, as well as reciting the oath of the appointed person. The history of this custom was inherited from the time of the traditional Malay Kingdom, where Menabal was considered a tool for asserting leadership in terms of custom and religion. In addition to certifying the right to rule, this ceremony also plays an important role in maintaining the stability and social structure of the community through honoring the customs of the ancestors.</p><div><br></div> ...
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AIR SARBAT
<p>Air Sarbat, a type of drink, has existed for thousands of years in Persia and recorded in the book Canon of Medicine and The Tale of a Thousand and One Nights. In a short while, this drink became popular in India during the reign of the Mughal Empire. In fact, the empire had improved it by drinking with ice from the Himalayan range for a more refreshing effect. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>In the early 1900s, the Indians migrated to Malaya in droves, bringing along their food and drink traditions, for one, the air sarbat. It was delicious, capturing the locals’ taste thus it became popular in Penang. A business brand, 3579Ais Tingkap emerged, pioneered by a trader in Lebuh Tamil, George Town since 1919. In hot weather, quenching their thirst, people will happily go for traditional drink air sarbat. </p><div><br></div> ...
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PERMAINAN TRADISIONAL HENCANG BUAH KERAS
<p>Hencang Buah Keras has been played for hundreds of years. ‘Hencang’ means crushing, and buah Keras, a candlenut. The players need to crush the candlenuts, the main item of the game. </p><p><br></p><p>Initially hencang buah keras was only to the pleasure of palace courtiers, played exclusively by them. But later, they invited the common folks to play on the palace grounds, thus the game popularity spread to all social strata. Adding to the merriment, it is also played along with dances. The dances can be Gamelan, Labi-Labi, Inai and Piring. It is also performed along with the martial art silat and drums.</p><p><br></p><p>Playing the game, the courtiers do not crush the candlenuts. Instead, the crushers were the warriors (the common people working for the sultan). The good crushers would be respected by the folks in the region and their names revered. </p><p><br></p><p>Historically, hencang buah keras was brought to Pahang by Kraeng Agang Jene Muhammad Naziruddin, more known as Keraing Aji (Tok Tuan), a Bugis nobleman and warrior from Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Bugis migrated to Pahang after the Dutch capture of Makassar in 1669. Keraing Aji strongly opposed the Dutch and fought to drive them out of Makassar. Hence, he and his followers were arrested by the Dutch and sentenced to exile in Capetown, South Africa.</p><p><br></p><p>On the voyage to Capetown, Keraing Aji escaped to Muar, Johor and then moved to settle in Kota Tinggi, Johor. After a while, he sailed to Endau and stopped there to collect water. He then continued his journey to Telok Kandang, Kampung Pulau Jawa, Pekan, Pahang. Feeling safe there, he stayed for ten years at Telok Kandang. In 1722, Keraing Aji moved to a new settlement in Pekan, naming it Kampung Mengkasar, after the name of its founder who was from Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia.</p><div><br></div><div><div>The Bugis migration brought the influence of culture and art to the people of Pahang. Having been introduced by Keraing Aji, they started to play hencang buah keras, and eventually, it became the Pahang game.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Types of Nuts </div><div><br></div><div>There are two types of nuts required in the game: the candlenut and the Gendong.</div><div><br></div><div>a)<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Candlenut</div><div>The candlenuts used is a hard type, which are called male and female.</div><div>a)<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The male nut is almost round, light and fragile, thus, rarely used in the hencang as it can be easily crushed (thus losing the game).</div><div>b)<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>The female nut – has a flat surface that it becomes the main choice since the surface is good for pairing. </div><div>c)<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>c) Buah Gendong - shaped like a chicken egg. However, it is rarely used in the game unless there are no other nuts to be used.</div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> ...
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TARIAN BUBU MENARI
<p>Tarian Bubu, also known as Lukah Menari, is an extraordinary folk dances of Perak. It is known so since the dancers hold a bubu or lukah when dancing. A bubu is a tool to catch fish in the Malaysian and Vietnam rivers. </p><p><br></p><p>The origin of this dance is shrouded in myth. For one, an extraordinary story, as such a favourite, tells about three young men who lost their way in the forest while catching fish (with a bubu) in the river. They rested under a tree and heard a girl singing on a nearby tree. So, they approached the girl and asked how to get out of the forest. The mysterious girl kindly helped them find their way back home</p><p><br></p><p>So, in appreciation of her, they made a bubu with the girl's clothes to remember their mystifying but sweet encounter. They took a coconut shell to make ‘her’ head and face. Then, holding the bubu, they sang the song sung by the girl. In awe at what they saw and appreciating the girls’ kindness, the villagers imitated the three men’s play-acting that it eventually became a heritage dance. </p><p><br></p><p>At present, the original tarian bubu is still performed but with a slight variation to suit the current community’s interest, outlook and preference.</p><div><br></div> ...
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MUZIK GAMELAN
<p>Gamelan is a type of traditional musical ensemble originating from the Malay Archipelago, particularly in Indonesia (mainly Java and Bali). Gamelan music is a combination of metallic and wooden instruments, playing a vital role in culture, traditions, and performing arts across Southeast Asia.</p><p><br></p><p>History and Origins of Gamelan</p><p>Gamelan has a long and rich history, dating back over a thousand years in Javanese and Balinese culture in Indonesia. It has been traditionally used in religious ceremonies, artistic performances, and grand celebrations.</p><p>The influence of gamelan extended beyond Indonesia, particularly into Malaysia, where it became part of Malay royal court culture, especially in states like Pahang and Terengganu.</p><p><br></p><p>In Malaysia, gamelan music retains influences from its Indonesian roots but has undergone adaptations to reflect local cultural identity and traditions.</p><div><br></div> ...
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CENCALOK
<p>Cencaluk is a type of traditional seasoning originating from Malaysia and Sumatra. It is popular among the Malay community and is often used as a flavor enhancer in various dishes. Cencaluk is made from shrimp fermented with salt and sugar. This fermentation process gives cencaluk its distinctive taste, which is slightly sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.</p><p><br></p><p>Cencaluk is believed to have originated in Sumatra, Indonesia, and later brought to Malaysia through trade influences between the two regions. It has become one of the staple ingredients in traditional Malay cuisine, particularly in states like Melaka, Johor, and Pahang.</p><div><br></div><div><div>Characteristics of Cencaluk</div><div><br></div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Taste: Salty, slightly sour, and umami, depending on the ingredients and preparation process.</div><div><br></div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Texture: Soft and liquidy, depending on the fermentation duration.</div><div><br></div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre"> </span>Color: Cencaluk is usually pink or light orange, depending on the type of shrimp used and the mixture of other ingredients.</div></div> ...
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RENDANG PUCUK UBI
<p>Rendang Pucuk Ubi (cassava young leaves/shoot) is an important feature of Negeri Sembilan traditional dishes. In general, the main ingredients of rendang dishes in other parts of Malaysia are chicken, beef or duck. But in Negeri Sembilan, the ingredient is the young cassava leaves that accentuates the flavour, making it a very mouthwatering traditional appetizer.</p><p> </p><p>Rendang pucuk ubi is customarily eaten with white rice. It can be stored long if kept in airtight containers in refrigerators.</p><div><br></div> ...
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