Giant lanterns enliven Iftar@KL at Dataran Merdeka
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through the National Department of Culture and Arts (JKKN) organized the Iftar@KL program yesterday and today at Jalan Raja, Dataran Merdeka here.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the Iftar@KL event this time, which has the concept of breaking the fast by sitting cross-legged on mats, will receive 20,000 visitors, including foreign tourists, for yesterday and today.
“The purpose of this program is to encourage and prosper Ramadan as a month of worship and concern for fellow human beings through filling activities, bridging friendship and tolerance between races through programs and activities to promote Islamic culture and arts to local and international tourists through the Cultural Tourism Program,” he told reporters here yesterday after attending the Iftar @KL event.
He who represented the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing also distributed Aildilfitri donations to 40 orphans from the Titian Kaseh Care Centre.
Iftar@KL organized by JKKN is jointly organized by strategic partners Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the Federal Territories Department of Islamic Religion (Jawi) and the Putra Cultural Arts Association and supported by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
Among the interesting features is the Seven Liquor Night Launch Ceremony where it has become a tradition for the Malay community to light lanterns towards the end of Ramadan with the symbolic launch of distinguished guests lighting the Five Wicked Giant Lantern at Dataran Merdeka.
This giant five-wick lantern measuring 6.1 meters in length surrounded by 100 small lanterns will be lit from April 15 until 12 midnight on April 20 to enliven and color the atmosphere at night in Kuala Lumpur as well as to mark the joy of the city’s citizens welcoming the arrival of Aidilfitri in in addition to providing a unique experience to foreign tourists.
