To keep the pelita panjut or oil lamps tradition alive, the Ipoh City Council (MBI) has taken the initiative to organise a decoration competition between departments within the local authority.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the maiden internal competition would be included in the tourism calendar next year to encourage participation from the public.
“We are trying to bring back the nostalgia so that the younger generation will not forget their cultural traditions.
“Over the years, these oil lamps have been replaced with modern and colourful decorative lights, so we are taking this initiative in conjunction with the Visit Ipoh Year 2023,” he told reporters after the MBI Inter-Sector Panjut Festival launching ceremony here last night.
Elaborating, Rumaizi said about 2,000 oil lamps were used to create four panjut decorations at Padang Ipoh here.
He added that the oil lamps would be lit until the third day of Hari Raya to give Ipoh folks the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of the panjut festival.
Padang Ipoh was chosen as the location for the decoration competition as it is situated in the centre of this city and is also part of the Ipoh Tourism Triangle.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency