The Merdeka Square is illuminated by lanterns, using the Aidilfitri atmosphere in the village
KUALA LUMPUR: The festive atmosphere welcoming the arrival of Aidilfitri, like in the hometown, was also felt in the capital when the Dataran Merdeka field, here, was lit up with the light of 100 light emitting diode (LED) lanterns.
More interestingly, a replica of the 6.1 meter long Giant Lantern is also installed which becomes the main attraction and provides a unique experience to visitors thus coloring the beauty of the atmosphere at night.
It was lit last Saturday until 12 midnight on April 20 as part of an exciting event in conjunction with Iftar@KL organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
A survey found that the public lantern lighting area was visited by people of various ages who did not want to miss the opportunity to take pictures starting after breaking the fast until 11pm.
A visitor from Wangsa Maju, Muhaimin Abdullah, 40, said he was stunned to see the beauty of Dataran Merdeka decorated with street lanterns, as if recalling the nostalgia of welcoming Aidilfi in the village when he was a child.
“By chance I came to Dataran Merdeka this time to break the fast with my family and did not expect that the middle of the field was decorated with street lamps even though only LED type lights were used.
“Efforts to revive the tradition of lighting lanterns in a focal point like this coincide in an effort to popularize it to the current generation and foreign tourists,” he said, who also took the opportunity to take a selfie with his family with giant lanterns.
Meanwhile, a foreign tourist from Morocco, Mohammed Amine, 31, also shared his excitement because it was the first time he saw lanterns whose culture did not exist in his country of origin.
“It (LED lights) is amazing. It adds to the excitement of the holiday celebration and I will share this uniqueness with friends who don’t know about it through social media,” he said.
