Unesco accepts George Town and Malacca as World Heritage Sites

GEORGE TOWN: The historical sites of George Town and Malacca have finally been listed as World Heritage Sites – a much sought after listing by nations across the globe.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) accorded the two cities the status yesterday when the Paris-based World Heritage Council met in Quebec, Canada.

The recognition will see historical and cultural properties in both cities to be listed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

Malaysia had been bidding for the prestigious listing since 2004.

The core areas encompass the historical sites of George Town, including the Lebuh Acheh historical enclave and sites such as the Lebuh Acheh Malay Mosque, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Kling Mosque, the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Khoo Kongsi, St George's Church, Assumption Church, St. Xavier's Institution, Convent Light Street, Little India, the museum and court building, the commercial area of Beach Street, Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade, City Hall, the clan jetties and the port areas.

In Malacca, the historical sites near the St Paul's Hill, the 17th century Dutch Stadhuys buildings, Jonker Street with its Dutch-era buildings, Jalan Tukang Besi, Kampung Morten and Malacca River have been recognised as part of the world heritage sites.

Penang Tourism Development, Cultural, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said a state representative who were following the meeting in Canada informed them of the success bid yesterday evening.

"Listing George Town and Malacca on the World Heritage List would definitely help to boost the tourism in both states in a long run."

Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the success in the bid is a boost to multiculturalism and tourism for Malaysia.

(Excerpt frm The Star, Nation 8 July 2008 by Eddie Chua)

Penang Bon Odori Japanese Festival 2008

Date : 19th July 2008 (Saturday)
Time : Begins about after 5:00pm-6:00pm, Ends around 11:00pm
Venue : Esplanade
Admission : Free!

Bon Odori Festival, a festival that Japanese people worship their beloved ancestors is the most popular cultural event in Penang. People in Japan entertain the spirits of their ancestors by dancing Bon Odori, and in Penang, the ladies from the women's club of Penang Japanese Association dance on the stage together with thousands of Malaysians dancing in the field. This year's Bon Odori Festival programs included Japanese drum performance by Miyabi Daikob and Penang Japanese School students, Yosakoi Soran by Malaysian Japanese Society and Children's Protection Society. Besides all these interesting programs, there were food stalls that sold Japanese food as well as local food, souvenirs, traditional games and so on.

Well, in previous years there were fireworks display at the end of the event except for last year 2007 which was held at Padang Brown but this year it is back to Esplanade so, expect fireworks at the end of the event (hopefully)

Features of Bon Odori Festival in Penang

- Organized by the Japanese Expatriate & Immigrant's Society in Malaysia, Bon Odori Festival in Penang, however is observed in a smaller dimension as compared to that in Japan.
- Interestingly enough, this festival today reflects more Japanese culture than the inherent principles of Buddhism.
- You will be able to enjoy hordes of Japanese food, drinks, art and dance in this festival.
- This festival is the Japanese counterpart of the Chinese's Hungry Ghost Festival..

(Source : http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/36/Penang_Bon_Odori_Japanese_Festival_2008 )

About Bon Odori

Bon Odori (盆踊り, meaning simply Bon dance) is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors.

Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to express the effusive welcome for the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Each region has a respective local Bon dance, as well as different music accompanying the dance. The music can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual message of Obon, or local min'yo folk songs. Consequently, the Bon dance will look and sound different from region to region. Hokkaidō, or northern Japan, is known for a folk-song known as "Soran Bushi." The song "Tokyo Ondo" takes its namesake from the capital of Japan. "Goshu Ondo" is a folk song from Shiga prefecture. Residents of the Kansai area will recognize the famous "Kawachi ondo." Tokushima in Shikoku is very famous for its "Awa Odori," or "fool's dance," and in the far south, one can hear the "Ohara Bushi" of Kagoshima, Kyūshū.

The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold made especially for the festival called a 'yagura'. The yagura is usually also the bandstand for the musicians and singers of the Obon music. Some dances proceed clockwise, and some dances proceed counter-clockwise around the yagura. Some dances reverse during the dance, though most do not. At times, people face the yagura and move towards and away from it. Still some dances, such as the Kagoshima Ohara dance, and the Tokushima Awa Odori, simply proceed in a straight line through the streets of the town.

The dance of a region can depict the area's history and specialization. For example, the movements of the dance of the Tankō Bushi (the "coal mining song") of old Miike Mine in Kyūshū show the movements of miners, i.e. digging, cart pushing, lantern hanging, etc. All dancers perform the same dance sequence in unison.

There are other ways in which a regional Bon dance can vary. Some dances involve the use of different kinds of fans, others involve the use of small towels called tenugui which may have colorful designs. Some require the use of small wooden clappers, or "kachi-kachi" during the dance. The "Hanagasa Odori" of Yamagata is preformed with a straw hat that has been decorated with flowers.

The music that is played during the Bon dance is not limited to Obon music and min'yo; some modern enka hits and kids' tunes written to the beat of the "ondo" are also used to dance to during Obon season. Particularly famous is "Pokemon Ondo", which was used as one of the ending theme songs for the Pocket Monsters anime series in Japan.

The Bon dance tradition is said to have started in the later years of the Muromachi period as a public entertainment. In the course of time, the original religious meaning has faded, and the dance has become associated with summer.

To celebrate O-Bon in Okinawa, the eisa drum dance is performed instead.

(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Festival#Bon_Odori)