Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

This afternoon’s visit to Petaling Street, otherwise known as Chinatown, in Kuala Lumpur proved to be disappointing.

It is no longer the place it used to be, vibrant and busy, with vendors calling out, to attract customers to their stalls. There used to be more carts on wheels, selling roasts and other delectable eats.

Today,the voices that greeted my ears were speaking in foreign tongues; vendors were not locals but foreigners of different shades. The goods on display were cheap products sourced from China. Imitation bags, watches, clothing of dubious quality, sun glasses, etc., were on display along the street, often obscuring the high street shops.

With the Chinese New Year just days away, the décor along the street was nothing to shout about, just a few lanterns high above the street.

In fact there was no atmosphere at all, not like the yester years when the festive spirit was in the air with everyone making purchases to welcome in the new year.

Chinatown, Singapore 2013

I swung by Chinatown a couple of mornings ago to see the much touted snake that is currently the main décor for the incoming lunar Year of the Snake.

As expected the predominant color in Chinatown is red, an auspicious color and de rigeur for the Chinese New Year. Most of the clothing on sale in the shops would be red, the flowers are red and of course the hong pao or red packets are also red.

The long undulating snake is made of red square boxes and its tongue is a long string of firecrackers. At night when lighted up, it would look more spectacular but during the day, it wasn’t anything really to shout about.

Hung across the main street were also the red square boxes.

On one part of the central divider were some multi-colored lanterns.

In one of the narrow alleys in Chinatown are small shops selling Chinese New Year paraphernalia, mostly red, auspicious calligraphy, paper cut-outs, sweet meats, confectionery, biscuits, etc.

Red and yellow pineapple shaped lanterns also adorn some shops, the pineapple being a symbol of prosperity ( “ong lai” or inviting prosperity ).

The pussy willow are also a must for homes during this festive season.

The sticky glutinous cake or “Nien Gao” is also a delicacy enjoyed at this time. In fact it is an offering made to the Ktichen God who after partaking of it, will not bad mouth the family when he makes his annual report to the Emperor God.

Pomeloes are also another offering commonly found on altars in the Chinese temples or before the ancestral tablets at home.

The days before the lunar new year are busy days, with spring cleaning and preparations to welcome in the new year. All family members will head for the family home for that most important event, the reunion dinner on the eve of the New Year. This is the time most precious for aged parents who get to see their children and grandchildren, many of whom make this annual visit to pay their respects to the old folks. Many families drive, catch the bus, train or fly across the length and breadth of the country for this dinner.

Ponggal Thanksgiving

Ponggal is a festival celebrated by the Indian community in Malaysia either at the temple or at home. It is a harvest festival giving thanks to the Sun God in appreciation of an abundant harvest.

Plain clay pots or gaily decorated clay pots are used and these are quickly snatched up by the women who usually prepare the ingredients and rice to be used.

Sweetened rice is cooked together with milk, raisins, cashew nuts, jaggery and spices in a clay pot and the milk is allowed to boil over. This signifies happiness and prosperity for the family.

Sugar cane and fresh fruit also feature in this festival which will be celebrated in two days' time.