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Culture of Penang

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278:, heritage celebrations were held to commemorate this historical event. With the support of the Penang State Government, the Festival grew from a 3-day heritage celebration in July 2009 to become a month long celebration of cultural performances, theatre, opera, music, dance, film, art exhibitions and more in 2011 and 2012. The 2011 George Town Festival featured a host of local talents during the "Tapestry of Culture" themed heritage celebrations, juxtaposed against international acts such as "Vertical Road" by Akram Khan Company. The 2012 George Town Festival received over 78 local and foreign proposals and showcased local talents, particularly in the Opening Event entitled "Silat - Our Heritage for the World", "Live Heritage" - the theme of the 3-day heritage celebrations, Tony Yap Company and Lee Wushu, together with large international acts such as "The Manganiyar Seduction" by 256: 215:(previously known as Voices of Penang Philharmonic) . The Penang Symphony Orchestra is another amateur orchestra. The Fingerprints Chamber Choir is a leading chamber choir, with members comprising mainly singing teachers and advanced singing students. It has won prizes at several competitions and performs regularly at various festivals and recitals in the country. Other ensembles include the Penang State Chinese Orchestra (a Chinese instrumental orchestra), ProArt Chinese Orchestra, and many other school-based musical groups. 360:. Wesak Day's night procession is an annual event organised in Penang since 1949 until present days. It was organised entirely by Buddhist community in Penang and funded through donations. The annual grand float procession usually starts at 6.00 pm, from the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Burma Road. The procession floats are beautifully decorated with colourful flowers and bright lights. Buddhist monks will conduct chanting and sprinkling holy water throughout the procession journey. 243:, and over time has evolved into a distinctive Malaysian style. The earliest record of lion dancing in Malaysia was the official registration of a Penang lion dance troupe back in 1903 but it is indisputable that the Chinese community had been practising it long before then. The Chinese place special significance to this dazzling form of art, associating it good luck, power, strength, majesty and happiness. Today lion dance remains actively performed especially during 429:. The Chinese believe that on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the gates of underworld would open and the dead souls whom without any descendants to conduct ancestral worship for them would be allowed to roam in the living realm to receive food and offerings. The Chinese would placate the 'hungry ghosts' by organizing big worship celebration that include religious rituals, burning incense, making food offerings and performing 25: 442:
communities because many Chinese migrants in the past often passed away without any offspring or descendants, therefore they do not have anyone to conduct the ancestral worship for them. Many Oversea Chinese communities will therefore conduct grand seventh lunar month worship celebration as a way to
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celebrations and also during the birthdays of Chinese Deities. Its history stretched back to 1880. At the turn of the century, Penang became famous for its "Giant Flags Procession". Flag bearers carry and balance giant flag poles (some 10m high) on their shoulders, chins and foreheads then tossing
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on makeshift stages. At the end of the month-long festival, a giant effigy of Da Shi Ye (大士爷) who is maintaining the law and order of the 'hungry ghosts' will be sent off and burned. Throughout the month, it is ill-advised to travel, go out at night or to get marry. This tradition is more popular
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Penang hosts the annual Penang-YTL Arts Festival in December, with theatrical performances, contemporary and traditional dances, art and photography exhibitions, as well as concerts of classical and modern music. The programmes are drawn up by the Penang Arts Council every year and are partly
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is a lively and colourful carnival held every year in December. This event were held by Penang State Financial Department under Tapak Pesta and Expo Units and the festivity includes open-air concerts, variety shows, food bazaars, fun fairs, exhibitions, pet shows, a
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tenth month of Thai. Devotees and penitents can be seen bearing kavadis, and piercing their bodies with hooks and spears without seeming to cause any pain or harm as an act of faith and atonement. The centre of the celebration takes place at the
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Penang comes alive at night, with many lively night spots such as pubs, bars, bistros, discos, cafes, and even roadside stalls. The most popular places to go to are Upper Penang Road with its many trendy pubs such as
286:, Sbaek Thom - Cambodian Shadow Puppets by Cambodia Living Arts, the Tilak Fernando Dance Troupe from Sri Lanka and the Australian Youth Band. The 2013 Festival promises to be bigger and better. 180:, was established in 2002 to promote art awareness among Penang citizens. The USM ABN-Amro Arts and Cultural Centre closed down in early December 2006 due to lack of patronage. The 400:, worshipping at temples, lion dance, sumptuous feasts and open houses. It is also an occasion for family reunions, visiting friends and relatives, and gift exchanges. 176:
The Penang State Art Gallery and the Pinang Gallery showcase the works of local artists. A newer gallery, the USM ABN-Amro Arts and Cultural Centre, located at
410:. It is a joyous celebration which brings families together and it is the time to seek forgiveness from one another. The Hindu festival 381: 138: 42: 108: 283: 89: 301: 61: 46: 255: 204: 68: 624: 212: 489: 271: 75: 35: 181: 177: 196:. The art gallery features works by Malaysian artists. Other establishments promoting art awareness include the 203:
Penang has a relatively active arts scene. The Penang Philharmonic is a government-supported musical house for
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where it was first unveiled by the colonial administration. A small museum, it has a fine collection of old
338: 197: 263: 154: 548:(milk tea). Also, insatiable Penangites often eat until late at night in places like coffee shops. 452: 418: 267: 240: 142: 82: 426: 146: 270:, Penang. Typically held within the month of July since the inauguration of George Town as a 393: 325: 293: 244: 229:, a fading art form with singing and dancing once popular among the local Malay community. 222:
sponsored by the YTL Group of Companies, a corporate patron of the arts scene in Malaysia.
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is considered as most sacred celebration for the Buddhists as the day commemorates with
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and have been going on in Penang waters since 1934. The current festival is held at the
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and historical records charting the growth of Penang from the days of Francis Light.
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houses artifacts and cultural exhibits. The present building, which was formerly the
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which is awash with many little bars popular with travellers; Pulau Tikus with its
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them to the next bearers. Chingay later spread to other states and Singapore.
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is a month-long Festival celebrating the Arts, Heritage and Culture in
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is a Muslim celebration which comes after one month of fasting during
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The Actors' Studio Greenhall performs stage plays from time to time.
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As in other places with a substantial population of Chinese people,
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is a Penang festival which is held every year as part of the
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open until early in the morning, whose signature dishes are
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The Penang Buddhist Association on Anson Road, built in 1925
584:. Penang Philharmonic website. Retrieved 15 August 2018 374:
over the demons. It falls on a full moon day on the
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 596:. georgetownfestival.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018 532:. Lower-priced eating places like the ubiquitous 247:and also during the opening of new businesses. 608:penangdragonboat.com. Retrieved 15 August 2018 282:, "Blinded Mind" by Susanna Leinonen Company, 396:is a grand affair in Penang, celebrated with 16:Overview of the culture of Penang, (Malaysia) 8: 425:(普度)) is celebrated on a grand scale by the 366:is an annual religious event celebrated by 302:Penang International Dragon Boat Festival 121:This article is about the culture of the 109:Learn how and when to remove this message 520:also feature many hotel lounges such as 254: 574: 225:Penang is also home to the indigenous 192:section with a special exhibition on 184:Museum and Gallery possesses a large 7: 324:races can trace their roots back to 235:is an ancient art form brought from 47:adding citations to reliable sources 382:Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple Penang 356:'s birth, enlightenment and final 14: 213:Penang Philharmonic Chamber Choir 284:The Philippine Madgrigal Singers 23: 443:honour those Chinese migrants. 34:needs additional citations for 370:to commemorate the victory of 200:de Penang and Hotel Bellevue. 1: 274:on 7 July 2008 together with 205:Penang Philharmonic Orchestra 504:; and Gurney Drive with its 385:at Waterfall Road where the 646: 272:UNESCO World Heritage Site 182:Universiti Sains Malaysia 512:. The seaside resort of 300:Penang hosts the annual 251:Festivals and Carnivals 606:"Dragonboat in Penang" 260: 594:"Georgetown Festival" 451:International Artist 421:(known in Hokkien as 258: 404:Hari Raya Aidilfitri 264:George Town Festival 43:improve this article 625:Culture of Malaysia 542:(Indian bread) and 419:Zhong Yuan Festival 139:Penang State Museum 58:"Culture of Penang" 486:Slippery Senoritas 339:Pesta Pulau Pinang 261: 241:Chinese immigrants 198:Alliance française 143:Penang Free School 496:and the likes of 389:procession ends. 119: 118: 111: 93: 637: 609: 603: 597: 591: 585: 579: 455:born in Penang. 394:Chinese New Year 294:Chinese New Year 245:Chinese New Year 133:Arts and Culture 114: 107: 103: 100: 94: 92: 51: 27: 19: 645: 644: 640: 639: 638: 636: 635: 634: 615: 614: 613: 612: 604: 600: 592: 588: 582:"PP - About us" 580: 576: 571: 554: 466:Soho Free House 461: 449: 440:Oversea Chinese 346:and many more. 253: 190:performing arts 163:Fort Cornwallis 135: 115: 104: 98: 95: 52: 50: 40: 28: 17: 12: 11: 5: 643: 641: 633: 632: 627: 617: 616: 611: 610: 598: 586: 573: 572: 570: 567: 566: 565: 560: 553: 550: 518:Tanjung Bungah 514:Batu Ferringhi 460: 457: 448: 445: 427:Penang Chinese 344:beauty pageant 252: 249: 147:aerial bombing 134: 131: 117: 116: 99:September 2015 31: 29: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 642: 631: 628: 626: 623: 622: 620: 607: 602: 599: 595: 590: 587: 583: 578: 575: 568: 564: 561: 559: 556: 555: 551: 549: 547: 546: 541: 540: 535: 531: 530:Sunset Lounge 527: 523: 522:Asmara Lounge 519: 515: 511: 507: 503: 499: 495: 491: 490:Chulia Street 487: 483: 479: 475: 471: 467: 458: 456: 454: 453:Goh Lee Kwang 446: 444: 441: 436: 432: 431:Chinese opera 428: 424: 420: 415: 413: 409: 405: 401: 399: 395: 390: 388: 384: 383: 377: 373: 369: 365: 361: 359: 355: 351: 347: 345: 340: 336: 334: 331: 327: 326:ancient China 323: 319: 315: 311: 307: 306:United States 303: 298: 295: 291: 287: 285: 281: 277: 273: 269: 265: 257: 250: 248: 246: 242: 238: 234: 230: 228: 223: 219: 216: 214: 210: 206: 201: 199: 195: 191: 187: 183: 179: 174: 172: 168: 164: 160: 159:Francis Light 156: 152: 148: 144: 140: 132: 130: 128: 124: 113: 110: 102: 91: 88: 84: 81: 77: 74: 70: 67: 63: 60: –  59: 55: 54:Find sources: 48: 44: 38: 37: 32:This article 30: 26: 21: 20: 601: 589: 577: 543: 537: 534:mamak stalls 529: 525: 521: 510:Gurney Place 509: 505: 501: 497: 493: 485: 481: 477: 473: 469: 465: 462: 450: 422: 416: 402: 398:firecrackers 391: 380: 372:Lord Murugan 362: 348: 337: 330:Teluk Bahang 314:South Africa 299: 288: 280:Roysten Abel 262: 231: 224: 220: 217: 202: 194:wayang kulit 186:ethnographic 178:Beach Street 175: 151:World War II 136: 120: 105: 96: 86: 79: 72: 65: 53: 41:Please help 36:verification 33: 506:Gurney Walk 494:Belissa Row 354:Lord Buddha 322:Dragon boat 318:Netherlands 268:George Town 167:photographs 157:of Captain 155:bronze cast 619:Categories 569:References 539:roti canai 526:The Lounge 498:Orange Bar 233:Lion dance 69:newspapers 545:teh tarik 502:Segafredo 459:Nightlife 412:Deepavali 364:Thaipusam 350:Wesak Day 333:reservoir 239:by early 125:state of 123:Malaysian 563:Malaysia 552:See also 423:Phor Tor 408:Ramadhan 316:and the 207:and the 447:Artists 387:chariot 358:Nibbana 290:Chingay 149:during 83:scholar 630:Penang 558:Penang 482:Carmen 438:among 368:Hindus 276:Melaka 211:, the 209:chorus 127:Penang 85:  78:  71:  64:  56:  435:getai 376:Tamil 310:Japan 237:China 227:boria 90:JSTOR 76:books 528:and 516:and 508:and 500:and 484:and 478:Mois 474:Fame 470:Momo 417:The 188:and 171:maps 153:. 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"Culture of Penang"
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Malaysian
Penang
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