A festival of lights

But if you need one, call it the 'Pesta'.

The island of Penang bursts into celebration of festivals this month as Penangites let down their hair and go high on the hog with abandon during the Penang Fest.

According to the organizers Penang Fest 2004 or Pesta 2004 has been made over and revamped in a new and exciting image, combining the best of local and foreign commerce, tourism, culture, hobbies, crafts, sports and entertainment.

The Fest coincides with some of Malaysia's major religious festivities including Deepavali and Hari Raya Puasa, which marks the end of the Ramadan fasting month for Muslims. The fest continues into December and also takes in Christmas.

Organizers are expecting between 700,000 and a million people to attend the events associated with the festival.

This year's Penang Fest has several new components. Among them are the:

1. Property Gallery, where developers showcase new and established architecture for sale to the public;
2. Auto City, where big names in the motor industry display and sell their latest and most popular models including luxury cars and motorbikes like Harley Davidson;
3. Arts and Crafts Gallery, where local entrepreneurs active in batik, khat and local handicrafts exhibit their work and sell their products;
4. The International Pavilions, where exhibitors from Thailand, Indonesia and as far away as China and the African continent will promote their national products.

There will also be a Thai Fair at the Thailand Pavilion; the Indonesian Government will bring their local products for display and sale in the Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Barat and Acheh Pavilions and the Penang-China Friendship Association will carry out a China Fair at the Xiamen Pavilion.

Ching Gay in Penang

The Festival will also have a Pets World section and an artists' corner where homegrown portrait/caricature artists will display and sell their works of art.

The Penang Fest is a place for the sportsman. At the Euro Fun Park, the more adventurous and athletic can partake in extreme sports and competitions like Pesta Run, silat--a traditional Malay art of self-defence, basketball, futsal, sepak takraw and bodybuilding

Another major sporting event held in conjunction with the fiesta is the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open bowling championship, from 11-19 December 2004.

For the musically inclined there will be concerts for headbangers by bands like May, Wings, Def Geb C, Slam and Spring while gentler souls can relax to A. Rahman Hassan and the Nirvana Orchestra.