Stage
The main stage set up in front of the Masjid

The first day of the Islamic New Year is a national holiday in Malaysia, but it usually passes unremarked. This year, the State Mosque decided to host a day of activities on the grounds around the mosque. It was grand: there was a marathon, sports competitions, a bazaar, a stage with silat, traditional dance and nasheed presentations, a portable planetarium-in-a-tent, and of course food food food.  The highlight for my children was the exotic animal tent, where a pet store had pythons, horned lizards, skinks and lemurs on display … or on your shoulders!

Off-duty dancers flash Naruto moves
Off-duty dancers flash Naruto moves
Courtly cultural displays require a dignitary, who is never hard to find
Courtly cultural displays require a dignitary, who is never hard to find
The masjid veranda offered a cooler place to rest
The masjid veranda offered a cooler place to rest
Skinks: pets or food?
Skinks: pets or food?

SONY DSC SONY DSC SONY DSC A blessed 1435 AH to all!

Published by bingregory

Official organ of an American Muslim in Malaysian Borneo, featuring plants, pantuns and pictures from the Malay archipelago. Oversharing since 2002.

Join the Conversation

2 Comments

  1. You’re so lucky to have such celebrations, it seems to have been a great day, where I live it is just unnoticed by all of us and when we do notice it’s AH we’re like oh ok, we never prepare anything to celebrate, inchallah I’ll make that up with my children. Malaysia seems to be great by the way.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply