Heritage celebrations feature interactive workshops and dance stations which provide visitors with immersive experiences
CULTURAL heritage only endures when there is a collective desire to safeguard and perpetuate it.
In Penang, this spirit burns bright with communities actively promoting their traditions and practices to local and foreign audiences.
These activities are typically conducted by members of cultural organisations, clan associations and local elders – ensuring that the transmission of knowledge is authentic.
Local dancers performing at Jalan Pintal Tali during the Meng Eng Soo Open Day 2024 held in conjunction with George Town Heritage Celebrations 2024. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
This year’s George Town Heritage Celebrations 2024, which was centred around Armenian Street and Acheh Street, showcased time-honoured rituals, handicraft, art forms, games, cuisines, vanishing trades and more.
The annual event is notable for its use of interactive experiences to promote Penang’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Vibrant display
Rather than static exhibitions and traditional seminars, hands-on workshops were held, allowing visitors to experience things firsthand.
Take Teochew opera for example. While most outsiders today may struggle to understand its dialogues and gestures, they can easily appreciate the flamboyant masks and costumes.
So this year, visitors got to paint masks in their own colours and designs – a good entry point that inevitably got some curious about what the different hues and motifs symbolised.
Members of the Teochew Opera and Puppet House were on hand to brief those present on the ancient performance art’s vast world of heroes, villains and virtues.
Chow (centre) trying out one of the musical instruments while enjoying a traditional percussions performance by Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh. — Courtesy photo
Visitor Ng Kah Mei, a content moderator, enjoyed the immersive nature of such activities.
“There are so many things you can do and discover here,” she said of the event, which was in its 16th year.
Others were engrossed with making miniature wayang kulit puppet bookmarks under the guidance of facilitators from the Wak Long Music and Art Centre.
The shadow play art form dates back centuries and draws on Malaysian folklore to convey moral values.
Similarly, the workshop was a gateway for the public to delve into its traditions.
Zuxian (centre) and his daughter Su Qi taking a closer look at the potehi puppets.
“To cut and colour a bookmark with my own hands feels more of an accomplishment than buying one from a shop.
“And I learnt a few things about the art form which I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” said secondary school student Low Zhi Jian, a first-time visitor.
Hands-on approach
Patience was key for those trying out Peranakan beadwork taught by Living Heritage Treasure award recipient May Lim Seiw Seng, but the beautiful pieces they took home were worth the effort.
Johor native Nurul Amelia Rozaini said it would take pride of place among her collection of travel souvenirs.
“My friends and I came to Penang for the long weekend. Luckily it coincided with this event,” said the homemaker.
Others like Chinese national Jenny Sun had fun recreating the distinctive geometric patterns of tiles seen in George Town’s heritage shophouses using ink stamps and wooden coasters.
The university student took part in the Build Your Own Tiles! activity run by Sim Art Studio.
Sun (left) showing the floor tile coaster she created with the help of workshop facilitator Ng Wei (centre).
Sun learnt about the event online and said it was a great opportunity to learn about Penang’s multiculturalism.
“I’m from Guangdong, so some of the Chinese elements were familiar, but everything else was totally new to me.
“I’m amazed by how diverse the society here is,” she added.
Some adventurous festival- goers took the opportunity to try handling gigantic flag poles during the performance put on by the Penang Chingay Association.
Jacky and his son Andrew getting up close with lion dancers.
Others were content checking out the accompanying lion dance display and learning how to manipulate the colourful lion heads.
Among them was local contractor Jacky Ong, whose son Andrew was unperturbed by the deafening din of cymbals and drums.
“He loves lion dances very much. Whenever he sees it, he gets very excited.
“I know this event is very vibrant every year so we just wanted to join in the fun,” he said.
Insightful activities
Tourists Daniel Albert and Fred Bidet from Spain and France respectively, chanced upon the celebration while exploring George Town with their families.
They tried out the vesti and saree draping workshop run by Penang Hindu Sabha and took a lot of photos in the colourful garments.
“I lived in Penang for a couple of months about a decade ago and have always found the mix of cultures here fascinating.
“We enjoyed the different kinds of activities while our kids had fun getting their hands tattooed with henna art,” said Albert, an engineer by trade.
Bidet, who was exploring Asia for the first time, was similarly impressed by what a melting pot Penang was.
“George Town itself is incredible. There are lots of things to see everywhere, from temples to street food with nature just beyond it.
Visitors trying to balance gigantic chingay poles during the workshop run by the Penang Chingay Association.
“The event today really highlighted the mix of cultures,” said Bidet, who works in the IT sector.
The insightful activities are what keep regular attendees like factory worker Shelyn Chong returning year after year.
“I just love the vibes. It shows how much Penang has to offer.
“This event gives us the opportunity to reconnect with our heritage in a fun way,” she added.
Collaborative effort
The George Town Heritage Celebrations started in 2008 to celebrate the city’s joint inscription with Melaka Unesco World Heritage site.
It is organised by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) and typically held on July 7 – which has since become known as Heritage Day and is a public holiday in Penang.
Key to its success over the years are the passionate local community groups and individuals who go all out to share their culture.
For beadwork expert Lim, the event was extra special as she was among the Malaysians who went to Unesco’s headquarters in Paris in 2006 to lobby for World Heritage status.
“I normally run classes to pass on my skills to the next generation.
“I’ve been involved with the celebrations since the very beginning and was able to introduce Peranakan shoe beading to more people.”
A young visitor checking out wooden toys of yore from a craftsman.
Penang Hindu Sabha secretary V. Kumaran felt that the event gave tourists a good sampling of the state’s many cultural gems in one go.
The association had participated for many years and focused on vesti and saree this year to show that traditional garments are just as elegant and practical for daily use now.
“European, Japanese and Chinese tourists love it.
“Some even said they would go to Little India nearby and buy pieces to take home after trying them here,” he said, highlighting the positive knock-on effects for local businesses.
Community-led
GTWHI general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee said the celebrations had always been about the community.
“Its success was made possible by the efforts of the many communities residing in the city to preserve their cultural traditions and pass them on to future generations.
“Now our youth have become the primary agents of heritage transmission and safeguarding,” she said in her programme notes.
Event producer Ng Boon Nee said this year’s celebrations attracted the largest crowd ever, with 18,000 visitors stopping by throughout its four-and-a-half-hour duration.
“Each year, we strive to find different subjects and topics to showcase to the public.
“We want it to be family-oriented so parents and children can spend meaningful time together.
Ng (in pink) being briefed on Teochew opera paraphernalia by a member of the Teochew Opera and Puppet House.
“The workshop approach allows people to create more tangible connections,” Ng said.
The organising team, which comprised over 50 people, actively promoted the event in schools, colleges and universities.
Over a hundred local youth volunteered as guides and facilitators, indirectly learning about cultural heritage themselves.
“This year, we also wanted to draw attention to George Town’s built heritage and architecture,” Ng added.
Multicultural experiences
The celebrations this year featured 16 workshops in total, complemented by six interactive dance stations.
Among the other workshops were bamboo lantern making by Persatuan Warisan Dato Koyah, Chinese paper cutting and calligraphy by Lum Yeong Tong Yap Temple Youth Section, and spice grinding and pounding by Penang Hindu Association.
There were also sessions on making thiru udayada (traditional decorative fans) by North Malaysia Malayali Samajam, dough figurines by the husband and wife team of Loh Ban Tatt and Teoh Han Hoon, batik painting by Warisan Balik Pulau and traditional Malay music by Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh.
Completing the line-up were kimono doll-making by the Pink Hibiscus Club and Play-Play Penang! Malaysian board games by Luma.
The dance stations were equally popular with crowds joining in to learn the steps of Loy Krathong alongside Penang Siamese Committee Association members, bhangra folk dances with Penang Dhol Blasters and a special rendition of Warisan George Town by Boria Omara.
There were also upbeat daathubhajana and chiratalu routines by Penang Telugu Biddalu, rhythmic numbers by Dikir Barat Suara Mutiara and the Love Affairs traditional dance by the Malaysian-Japanese society.
Some of these were held within historic venues like the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi and Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, giving visitors the opportunity to marvel at their architecture.
Honouring forebears
Just a short walk away, the Meng Eng Soo ancestral hall also held its 2024 Open Day to mark Heritage Day.
This turned Jalan Pintal Tali into a hive of activity with dozens of stalls highlighting traditional pastimes, crafts and delicacies.
At two stages, various local groups took turns putting on dance, music and martial arts performances.
Among the visitors was IT project manager Ong Zuxian, who was seen giving his daughter Su Qi a closer look at potehi puppets.
“Many of these traditions are fast disappearing, so it’s good to be able to experience everything together at an event like this.
“My daughter might be too young to fully understand what she sees, but I want to expose her to culture from an early age,” said Ong.
Content creator Barry Teh said such street festivities were unique to Penang and could hardly be experienced anywhere else.
“It shows how heritage and history are still relevant.
“The events also allow us to indirectly promote the state through photos and videos on our social media accounts.”
Penang Chinese Clan Council chairman Ho Swee Choon hoped the open day allowed people to reconnect with their roots and gain a better appreciation of the contributions made by their forebears.
“We can continue to gain inspiration and strength from their efforts,” he said.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and other state leaders were present at both events.
