Holidays and event celebrated in April - June | Penang's festival

The Mariannam Procession

Accompanied by the chettiars, on a new noon night, the procession will start at the Sri Mariannam Temple at Queen Street. The statue of goddess Mariannam is placed on a wooden horse and drawn by a bullock cart.

There is a ritual slaughtering of a goat at the Muneeswarar Waterfall Temple, at the junction of Waterfall Road and Gottlieb Road. Afterwards the chettiar community (excluding those who will bear the kavadi) partake of a meal in the nearby premises.

Panguni Uttiram Varusha

This event is celebrated on the full-moon day of the Tamil month of Panguni. It is to honour the marriages of Siva to Shakti and of Lord Subramaniam to Theivani.

Varusha Pirapu

Celebrated by most Hindus, particularly by Northern Indians. The Vaishnaivites celebrate it for nine days, at the Sri Rama Temple at York Road.

Cithirai Parwam

Most temples carry out fire walking ceremonies in honour of the Goddess Mariannam. As in the Thaipusam festival, the kavadi or ceremonial yoke, is carried to Waterfall Hilltop Temple.

Prophet Mohamad's Birthday

The Prophet was born on the third month of the Muslim calendar, in 570 AD. His birthday is celebrated with religious lectures and recitals of verses from the Koran.

Cheng Beng

Cheng Beng stretches for a week. During this period, the Chinese community will visit graves of deceased family members and ancestors to pay their respects. Graves are weeded and cleaned, joss-paper is burnt, and offerings are made.

Birthday of the Goddess of Mercy

Her birthday falls on the 19th day of the third moon, 6th moon and 9th moon. That's right, three birthday celebrations in one year!

Sri Rama Navami

A nine-day festival held by the Brahman caste to honour the Hindu hero of the Ramayana, Sri Rama.

Birthday of the Queen of Heaven and Goddess of the Sea

"Ma Cho Po", is celebrated at her temple on the 8th day of the fourth moon.

Wesak Day *

A day to mark the birth of Lord Buddha on the 15th day of the fourth moon. This is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. Temples are packed with devotees during this celebration. A procession of floats, flower and flag is held at night, commencing at 7.00pm, from the Malaysian Buddhist Association, 182 Burmah Road.

Double Five

During China's era of the warring states there was a patriotic Chinese poet-official, Chu Yuan, who committed suicide because he was exceedingly grieved by the corruption in the high circles which were running his beloved country. When Chu Yuan drowned himself in a river, the people went out in dragon boats and threw rice dumplings (chung) into the river so that the fish would not devour his corpse. Chu Yuan's tragic death is commemorated on the Double Five with the dragon boat festival and the chung festival simultaneously, celebration on the 5th day of the fifth moon.

The festivals listed marked with a ' * ' are state or national holidays. Government offices and banks will be closed.

More celebrative events, public holidays and festival in Penang | Visit Malaysia