HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS IN MALAYSIA: MULTIPLE NEW YEARS, MUSLIM FEASTS, THAIPUSAM

HOLIDAYS IN MALAYSIA

holiday sweets in Malaysia

It is said that Malaysia has more holidays than any other country in the world. Most of the world’s major religions are honored in Malaysia. Everyone gets time off from work for holidays for all religions even though they may not belong to that religion. For example, Muslims get the day off for Christmas.

Holidays and festivals have traditionally been a time when people leave the cities and return to their home villages and kampongs. Penang and East Malaysia have several organized festivals and pageants that may appeal to travelers. Most festivals in Kuala Lumpur are celebrated in a low-key manner. A parade marks Independence Day; banners and arches are erected for Hari Raya, which marks the end of Ramadan; and a Quran-reading contest takes place each year during Ramadan. [Source: Cities of the World, Gale Group Inc., 2002, adapted from an October 1994 U.S. State Department report]

New Year’s Day is celebrated four times a year by each of the four religious groups found in Malaysia— Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Chinese—all of which have sizable populations in the country. At Chinese New Year, lion dancers and firecrackers can be seen and heard throughout Chinese districts.

Islamic religious leaders and officials in Malaysia have warned Muslims against celebrating Valentine's Day, linking it with vice activities and unsuitable for Muslims.

Festivals in Malaysia

Malaysia–Japan Festival 2022

Major festivals include Chinese New Year (around February), the Buddhist holiday of Wesak (around May or June), Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights (around October or November), and Christmas. Some uniquely Malaysian festivals include the Harvest Festival at the end of May and the 'Pesta Gawai' in early June, both thanksgiving celebrations held in East Malaysia.

During the Indian festival of Thaipusam, hundreds of thousands of devotees come to Batu Caves just north of the city to pay homage to Lord Murugan. Many of the devotees carry ornately decorated kavadis, some attached to their bodies with hooks through the skin. Smaller but still elaborate versions of the Thaipusam festivities take place in Penang and elsewhere throughout the country.

Bird singing competition are held at various times in Indonesia. They Perlis feature birds from all over Southeast Asia competing for the honor of having the best song. There is also a dove cooing competition. The featured event is a "Merbok" competition. A merbok is a kind of bird.

From February through October performance of Traditional Games and Pastimes in Kota Bahru at the local cultural center. They feature top spinning, kite flying, beating of giant drums, martial arts and drama performances.

The 28th Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival was scheduled for February 4–8, 2026, at Bukit Layang-Layang in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. This major event features hundreds of international kite flyers from over 50 countries, showcasing traditional and modern kites. It is a premier highlight in the Malaysian tourism calendar.

Muslim Holidays in Malaysia

The days on which Muslim holidays are celebrated changes every year, occurring approximately 11 days earlier each year on the Western Gregorian (solar) calendar. This shift happens because the Islamic Hijri calendar is based on the lunar cycle (approx. 354 days), making it about 11 days shorter than the solar year (approx. 365 days). Muslim religious holidays, such as the first day of Ramadan, Nuzul al-Quran (the Night of Power), and Israk Mikraj (which commemorates the ascension of Muhammad) are celebrated according to state laws.

Ramadan is the Muslim fasting month. Lively Ramadan bazaars appear in the evening after the fast is broken in every city and town, bustling with activity and filled with food. Hotels and restaurants also put on large spreads for fast-breaking feasts.

Panjut Festival in Kuala Kangsar marks the end of the 27th night of Ramadan. Malays celebrate this night by lighting their houses with lanterns and candles.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Hari Raya Puasa) is the feast after Ramadan is finished. Known as Eid el-Fitr or just Eid in most of the Muslim world, it is the biggest Muslim holiday of the year and is celebrated with feasting and visiting friends. Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated nationwide and falls on the first day of Syawal, the 10th month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims begin the day with prayers at the mosque and remembrance of deceased relatives. It is also common to hold “open houses” for family and friends.

Although Hari Raya Aidilfitri officially runs for two days, it is actually celebrated for almost a month. Houses are cleaned, new curtains are hung and special food is prepared for the month-long open house, a time for visiting friends and relatives. On the holiday itself, all members of the household gather after morning prayers to pay homage to the family elders.

Hari Raya Aidil Adha commemorates the pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca and is celebrated the same way as Aidilfitri, albeit on a smaller scale. On Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Muslims greet each other with the phrase "Selamat Hari Raya" (meaning "Happy Hari Raya"), and children wear new clothes. During this period, the public can visit the palaces of the Malay sultans, as well as the residences of government ministers and other officials, who also hold open houses.

Maal Hijrah is celebrated nationwide and commemorates the Islamic New Year and the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina. The day is marked with rallies and processions.

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is celebrated nationwide with religious rallies held throughout the country. Muslims gather to recite hymns and holy verses from the Koran at mosques and Muslim scholars give talks.

Major Holidays in Malaysia in the Winter

January 1—New Year’s Day

January or February—Thaipusam is a Hindu festival marking the triumph of good over evil. It is a day of penance and thanksgiving.

January or February—Chinese New Year is celebrated nationwide on the first day of the first moon on the Chinese lunar calendar with family reunion dinners, paying respects to elders, visiting relatives and friends, presenting ang-pows (red packets with money) to children and unmarried adults and lion dances in which dancers and acrobats demonstrate skills to the clashing of the cymbals and the beatings of gongs and drums. The Chinese New Year and the Muslim holiday of Hari Raya Puasa coincided for a few years until 1998.

February—Eighth Day of Chinese New Year was traditionally marked by releasing lanterns, though the practice has been restricted due to safety concerns.

February 1—Federal Day, also known as Kuala Lumpur City Day

Early February—Chap Goh Meh marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.

Third week of February—Cultural events in Terengganu and Perlis feature traditional dances, crafts, and performances.

Major Holidays in Malaysia in the Spring

March or April — Good Friday

March or April — Easter

May 1—Labour Day

May— Wesak (Vesak) Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, with temple visits, chanting, and charitable acts. Celebrations begin before dawn with devotees going to temples and offering incense, joss sticks and prayers. Monks in saffron robes chant sutras (religious hymns) all day. The poor are provided with free meals, worshippers make generous donations and release birds from cages to gain merit.

Late May—Harvest Festival in Sabah celebrates the rice harvest with ritualistic celebrations and expressions of thanksgiving to the creator for continuous provision of food. This is a time of merrymaking, especially among the Kadazans (a Sabah tribe), amidst the solemn rituals. Tapai (a kind of rice wine) flows freely as all the indigenous tribes participate in the festivities.

June 1–2—Gawai Dayak in Sarawak is an Iban festival which marks the gathering of the harvest and the Iban New Year. It is marked with family reunions, kenduris, traditional dances and games, public entertainment and beauty contests. A highlight is the Miring ceremony held in Iban longhouses at midnight on the eve of Gawai Day, to ask for the blessing of the Gods. This is followed by the serving of traditional tuak (rice wine), pulut and lemang.

Major Holidays in Malaysia in the Summer

May or June—Sabah International Dragon Boat Races in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Mid June —Malacca Dragon Boat Races

Late June — Pedro Festival in Malacca honors the patron saint of the fishing community with decorated boats and singing and dancing.

August or September—Cameron Highlands Flower Festival.

August — Hungry Ghost Festival begins on the full moon of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, usually around mid August, and lasts for 15 days to a month. It is a time when some Chinese believe spirits get a "summer vacation" from hell and return to the mortal world to cause mischief and enjoy feasts, performances of Chinese opera and other activities. Firecrackers are set off to scare away dangerous ghosts while ancestors are welcomed with bonfire offerings and recitations of Buddhist scripture. In Bukit Mertajam, northern Malaysia ethnic Chinese throw paper money in front of a 10-meter-high King of Hell effigy before its is burned.

August 31st—Merdeka Day (Malaysian Independence Day) is celebrated nationwide with parades, processions of floats, exhibitions and stage shows. The cities are also brightly decorated.

Major Holidays in Malaysia in the Fall and Early Winter

September and October —Malaysia Cultural Festival in Kuala Lumpur is week long festival with exhibitions, live entertainment, traditional games, good food, and exciting competitions hosted at hotels and shopping centers around town.

September—Lantern Festival in Georgetown Penang features processions with twinkling lights of brightly colored lanterns of all shapes and sizes.

October —Flora Festival in Kuala Lumpur features floats covered with flowers parading through the streets of Kuala Lumpur. The inspiration for this parade is the Rose Parade in California.

Moon Cake Festival is celebrated nationwide on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month on the Chinese calendar. It marks the overthrow of the tyrannical rule of the Mongol overlords in China and is celebrated with the exchange and eating of mooncakes. It is said that originally the mooncakes were used to conceal secret messages which finally led to the overthrow of the Mongols. A major highlight of the festival is a parade of brightly colored paper lanterns lit with candles and carried by children.

November 13th—Deepavali (Festival of Lights) is celebrated by the Hindu community. It falls on the Tamil month of Aippasi, when, according to Hindu scripture, Lord Krishna scored a victory over the demon Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife, Sita. At night, people light up the streets with oil lamps and Hindus light tiny oils lamps in their homes to signify the triumph of light over darkness. Hindus hold open houses and have feasts and drinking parties.

December —Orang Asli Cultural Festival features aboriginal groups from all over Malaysia and sports they play and food they eat..

December 25th—Christmas

Thaipusam at Batu Caves

Thaipusam at Batu Caves is a festival that focuses on faith, endurance, and acts of penance. In Malaysia it typically lasts three to four days and is dedicated to Lord Murugan, a son of Shiva, and serves as an opportunity for Hindus of different backgrounds to express gratitude and fulfill religious vows. The festival was introduced to Malaysia in the 19th century by mainly Tamil migrants from India working on rubber plantations and in colonial administration. It was first held at Batu Caves in 1888 and has since developed into the country’s largest public Hindu observance, particularly among Malaysians of Tamil origin.[Source: BBC]

Thaipusam is one of the most important religious festivals for primarily Tamil Hindus. It commemorates the day when the goddess Parvathi gave her son Lord Murugan a powerful lance to fight evil demons. The festival is also celebrated in India, Singapore and other areas with large Hindu Tamil communities. The celebration at Batu Cave includes a procession led by a silver chariot carrying a statue of Lord Murugan. Devotees carry kavadis supported by hooks and skewers piercing their skin. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend. Participants fast and abstain from certain activities beforehand. The festival attracts thousands of devotees and large crowds of up to 1.5 million observers. Batu Caves is about 13 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur.

Thaipusam is held annually in late January or early February, based on the Hindu lunar calendar.Preparations begin with a pre-dawn chariot procession in which a silver-plated chariot carrying a statue of Lord Murugan travels toward the caves. Large crowds gather along the route, offering fruit and seeking blessings, while musicians and drummers accompany the procession.

Participants typically wear bright clothing, especially yellow and orange, colors associated with Murugan and religious renunciation. Women often wear jasmine flowers in their hair. Devotees may undertake fasting and other forms of discipline as part of their pilgrimage. Although the event includes elements of celebration, it remains a deeply religious observance for participants, centered on personal devotion and spiritual commitment.

Penitents and Devotees That Pierce Themselves at Thaipusam

During Thaipusam in Malaysia, some devotees demonstrate their faith through acts of physical endurance that involve piercing the body. While many pilgrims simply walk in procession to the Batu Caves and climb its 272 steps to pray, others undertake more demanding rituals. Some carry pots of milk, known as paal kudam, on their heads as offerings to Lord Murugan. More intense forms of devotion include carrying large, decorated structures called kavadis, which are supported on the shoulders and attached to the body with hooks embedded in the skin. These hooks may be fastened to the back, with chains and ornaments hanging from them. [Source: BBC]

A number of devotees also pierce their bodies with metal skewers, or vels, which are inserted through the cheeks and tongue. These acts are understood to symbolize self-discipline, spiritual focus, and submission to the deity. Some participants go further by pulling heavy carts or chariots attached to hooks in their backs, creating visible strain as they move. Despite the physical intensity, participants often report feeling little or no pain, which they attribute to entering a trance-like state brought on by chanting, drumming, and incense. Groups of supporters accompany them, chanting and guiding them through the crowds, helping maintain the trance and ensuring their safety.

These practices are seen by participants as a direct expression of devotion and a means of connecting with the divine. The trance state is believed to bring them closer to Lord Murugan, allowing them to endure the physical demands of the ritual. Upon reaching the cave shrine, devotees complete their pilgrimage with final prayers and rituals, removing the hooks and skewers. Many describe the experience as spiritually transformative, leaving them feeling renewed and strengthened in their faith.

On Thaipusam in 2025, AFP reported: Devotees bearing offerings such as milk pots or carrying elaborate and heavy metal structures called "kavadis" walked barefoot up 272 steps to reach the temple at Batu Caves. Some kavadis can weigh as much as 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds) and those bearing the structures often gyrate to the beat provided by percussionists alongside religious chants and devotional folk songs. Some worshippers pierce themselves with skewers or hang hooks and chains from their bodies in acts of penance. "We will pray every day but once our prayers are a success, we say thank you to Lord Murugan. We are carrying the kavadis and milk pots to fulfil our vows," said Revathi Ramasundra, 45, a senior nurse. Businessman Mahendran Masialamoney, who was at the temple complex, told AFP: "This year, I prayed for my children's education as well as my career prospects." [Source: AFP, February 11, 2025]

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings, 1993; “Culture and Customs of Indonesia” by Jill Forshee, Greenwood Press, 2006; National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Indonesia Tourism website (indonesia.travel), Indonesia government websites, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated April 2026