TRADITIONAL GAMES, FESTIVALS AND PASTIMES

TRADITIONAL GAMES & PASTIMES 

Kite-flying is hugely popular here, not only among the boys but also the men. The most popular kite, or "wau"., is the moon kite, so named because of its crescent-shaped tail. Competitions are regularly held, and the winners are judged not only on how the kite flies, but also on the shape, colour and ornamentation, as well as on the grace with which the kite can be manoeuvred.

Top-spinning in Kelantan is basically an adult affair. Contests are held between pairs of men to determine how long one´s top, or "gasing", can spin. After the initial throw of the spin, it is expertly transferred to a stand, where it is left spinning until it stops.

Finally, there is the traditional pastime of rearing birds for their singing prowess, and then entering them in bird singing contests. This pastime is popular in the northern States as a whole. The bird normally used for this purpose in Kelantan is the merbok. Bull-fighting, which used to be a very popular pastime in Kelantan during the past, is now banned.

FESTIVALS 

Besides the usual religious festivals celebrated in the country as a whole, Kelantan is internationally renowned for hosting the International Kite Festival at Pantai Sri Tujuh near Tumpat. This is an annual event which attracts participants from all over the world.

ART / CRAFT & HANDICRAFTS

ART / CRAFT & HANDICRAFTS

Batik Kelantan

Kelantan is truly a great Malay cultural centre, which keeps the skills and traditions of a bygone age in an age of increasing commercialism and modern appliances usage. The people of the State produce a wide variety of art, craft and handicraft items, which are not only pleasing to the eye, but are also functional and environmentally friendly.

Amongst the woven handicrafts are those which use the mengkuang leaf and bamboo strips as a base. The products resulting from these raw materials are mats, bags, hats and conical food covers. Then there woven handicrafts relying on cloth. Amongst these cloths are batik, silk and Kain Songket. All three of these produce fine examples of craftsmanship and design. Using their skills in woodworking, the Kelantanese produce detailed woodcarvings and extend to traditional methods of boat-building, evident especially near the town of Tumpat.

They also produce intricate designs on silverware, for which the State is justly famous. Kelantan is one of the very few States in Malaysia which still retains the skills of its´ silversmiths. Finally, to serve and preserve the pursuits of traditional games and pastimes in the State, there are excellent craftsmen in Kelantan producing beautiful kites and tops both for individual pleasure and for competitive purposes.

SOCIAL CUSTOMS

SOCIAL CUSTOMS

DRESS  

This is one of the few States in Malaysia, in which will be seen traditional forms of dressing everyday. Ladies wear the traditional Baju Kurung which consists of a loose fitting blouse and a Sarung or the Baju Kebaya, which consists of a tight fitting blouse and a Sarung. They also cover their heads in the Islamic tradition with tudungs. Older ladies may wear head scarves instead, and are well-known for wearing gold bangles as these used to represent, at least in the past, their only measure of wealth besides the land and the animals they owned. The men tend to wear the traditional Baju (loose shirt top) with Seluar (long pants) and a Sarung wrapped around their midriff. All three of these garments are made of a fine, light coloured material, suitable for the prevailing weather. In Kelantan particularly, men are more likely to wear Serban (turbans) to cover their heads rather than Songkoks (Malay headwear similar to the fez of Middle Eastern origins, but smaller and black in colour). These Serbans are plain coloured and are not ostentatious. Some Malays (and Muslims from other races) may wear a white Topi (cloth cap) on their head. Usually, these are worn by Muslims who have made the pilgrimage to Holy Mecca. A more elaborate form of head dress worn by the Malays is the Tanjak or Tengkolok. These are worn during ceremonial or Royal Occasions.

CUSTOMS  

Social organisation in the State is based on the Adat Temenggung, which is patrilineal in form. Other traditions and customs include the Adat Resam, which governs births, deaths, engagements, marriages and other major events in life, whilst the Adat Istiadat Di-Raja are the customs and traditions which govern conduct at the Royal Court.

MARRIAGE  

Malay marriages are based on Islamic laws, with elements from the pre-Islamic past such as the "Bersanding Ceremony", where the couple are treated as royals for a day, and the dyeing of fingers, which is an old Malay tradition.

MUSIC AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

MUSIC 

A popular musical pastime is the beating of the harvest drum, the rebana besar. This drum measures 60 centimetres in height and one metre in diameter. The drum is placed on its side and is struck with the palm of the hand. In common with the other northern States, popular traditional musical forms include the religious songs and chants known as "Berzanji" and "Qasidah". The "Hadrah" which is an Islamic chant, is performed with dances and musical accompaniment. Singing and reparteeing in doggerel form is popular in Kelantan. This musical form is known as "Dikir Barat".

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS  

Musical instruments played in Kelantan include the rebana besar (big drum), the rebana ubi, the violin-like rebab, the gendang (a double-headed drum) and the tetawak (a gong), in addition to a whole host of percussion musical instruments.

KELANTAN'S DRAMA

DRAMA 

Wayang Kulit show

The Wayang Kulit, or shadow puppet drama, is said to have originated from Java in the 14^th Century, although the shadow play in Kelantan is particularly eclectic, combining not only Javanese, but also Chinese, Indian and Siamese influences. The repertoire includes enacting tales from the great Indian epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, together with tales on local folklore.

Behind a small raised stage supporting a large white screen sits the Tok Dalang, or master puppeteer. Sticking the buffalo-hide-and-stick puppets into banana stems positioned behind the screen, he then narrates the tale as he ´manipulates´ the puppets. A lamp, suspended between the screen and the puppeteer, causes the silhouettes of these puppets to dance on the screen. The narration is complemented by a small traditional orchestra consisting mainly of percussion instruments.

KELANTAN DANCE

DANCE  

The Mak Yong, a Malay dance drama which was performed exclusively for sultans and territorial chiefs until the turn of the century, combines dance, opera, drama and comedy. When royal patronage ceased, Mak Yong left the confines of the palace and became popular among the rural folk. The main cast of Mak Yong is made up of women, consisting of four leading actresses who play the king, a young prince, the queen (Mak Yong) and a princess. Male actors are included for comic relief. Mak Yong performers are accompanied by musicians who play the violin-like rebab, the gendang (a double-headed drum) and the tetawak (a gong). A male shaman or bomoh, follows a Mak Yong troupe to ensure the success of its performances.

Other Kelantanese court dances include the Tarian Payang, named after fishing boats and traditionally danced on the beach while waiting for fishermen to return, and the Tarian Asyik. The Tarian Garong is an up-tempo dance performed by five couples in a circle, whilst the Tarian Piring, a graceful dance symbolizing the offering of gifts to God on a small plate, the piring, is another popular dance.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

RELIGION 
 

Islam is the State Religion, with small numbers of people practising faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.

CULTURE
 

The ancient arts which once thrived throughout the country during breaks in the planting and harvesting seasons, and during the monsoon breaks, have all but disappeared from the west coast states. But in the east coast in general, and in Kelantan in particular, popularity in these art forms is as strong as ever.

ECONOMY

Central market at Kota Bharu

ECONOMY

 

Agriculture forms the backbone of the Kelantan economy. In 1993, 22% of the State´s GDP came from this sector. Total land area under agricultural cultivation is around 25% of the total land area in the State, with rubber and paddy taking up about 65% of this total. Paddy was cultivated on 80,000 hectares, and production was estimated at 286,000 metric tonnes in 1993. Rubber took up 156,000 hectares, of which 57% was cultivated by smallholders with the rest being cultivated in big estates. Tobacco is beginning to make up a bigger portion of the State´s GDP, and is becoming an ever more important cash crop. The State produces more than 90% of Malaysia´s total production of this crop.

Other important economic sectors in Kelantan include mining. Kelantan has viable deposits of manganese, gold, copper, barite, lead and zinc, in addition to deposits of granite, sand and limestone. Cottage industries such as the manufacture of keropok (prawn crackers), dried fish, and budu, a fish paste, are continually being promoted by the State Government. In addition to this, Kelantan is also encouraging the development of its´ handicrafts industry.

With some of the best reserves of timber in the country, Kelantan has good potential in this sector for the future. A star in the making is the manufacturing sector which, in 1993, contributed 12% of the State´s GDP. Tourism, on the other hand, is one area of the State´s economy which has not been exploited to anywhere near its´ full potential. Besides the natural beauty it has to offer visitors, Kelantan truly has a rich cultural tradition which can be utilised in the promotion of tourism.

 

LANGUAGE

LANGUAGE 

As the Malays form about 93% of the population, the Malay language is the most common language heard in Kelantan. In addition to this, some dialects of Chinese are spoken, along with a smattering of Thai, especially in Tumpat. Very occasionally, an Indian language may be heard.

                                                               

 

KELANTAN SHOPPING GUIDE

Shopping Guide

The place to do your shopping in Kelantan would be at the Pasar Siti Khadijah which is located in Kota Bahru. Here, various goods are sold. Right beside the Pasar Siti Khadijah is the Kota Bahru Trade Center which is known to be the largest shopping mall in Kota Bahru. The Pasar Siti Khadijah and the Kota Bahru Trade Center are connected to each other via an overpass located at the second floor. Other places to shop include the KB Mall (Pacific), Pelangi Mall, Billion Shopping Center, Pantai Timur, The Store, Kota Seri Mutiara and many more. Other hypermarkets have also set foot in Kelantan. The hypermarkets i

 

KELANTAN GEOGRAPHY

Geography - Climate and Weather

Since Malaysia is located close to the equator, Kelantan experiences hot and humid weather all year round with rainfalls totaling about 2500 mm a year. The average temperature of Kelantan is 27C. Heavy rains are expected during the monsoon season period. The monsoon season for the east coast begins in November and ends in February. Rains will get lesser during the months from April through March and again during October and November.

KELANTAN HISTORY

Kelantan

Traces of hunting and gathering activities in rock shelters dating back to what archaeologists refer to as the ´Hoabinhian´ period have been discovered at Gua Cha and Gua Musang in inland Kelantan. These caves were occupied by Hoabinhians between about 10,000 and 3,000 B.C. The Hoabinhian are named after cave sites in northern Vietnam. In later times, Kelantan came under the sway of the first great power in Southeast Asian history - the Empire of Funan. Farming methods used in Kelantan today are believed to have their origins in Funan, as do the ever-popular Wayang Kulit shadow play and local weaving techniques. Kelantan was at this time variously referred to as "Ho - Lo - Tan", "Chih - Tu" and "Tan - Tan". By the mid-7th Century a new maritime power, Srivijaya, had emerged, and Kelantan soon became a vassal of this Sumatran empire. Upon the demise of this power, it paid homage to the Siamese, an arrangement that was to last until the emergence of the new Malacca Sultanate in the 15th Century. With the demise of this sultanate, Kelantan was ruled first by ohore in the 17th Century, and later by Terengganu in the 18th Century. By the early 1800s, Kelantan was easily one of the most populous and prosperous States in Malaya. This was due to largely to the fact that, like its neighbour Terengganu, Kelantan was ´ignored´ by the concerted efforts that were being made to develop the resources found on the west coast. Thus ignored, Kelantan went on with her own largely unimpeded development. Kelantan did, however, maintain strong ties with Siam throughout the 19th Century. Kelantan lost her ´independence´ with control of the state passing to British hands following the signing of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty Of 1909. When Japan first landed her troops upon Malayan soil in Kelantan during World War II and the Occupation followed, control of the state was passed to Thailand. Kelantan became a member of the Federation of Malaya in 1948.