Important occasions

Alongside Deepavali, Ponggal, the Hindu New Year and Navratri, the community observes ancestral prayers of its own.

Archive photo: festival — Boys dressed for a temple festival

JAN Ponggal · Parchu Ponggal

FEB —

MAR —

APR Hindu New Year

MAY —

JUN Parchu Buah-buah

JUL Parchu Buah-buah

AUG —

SEP Navratri

OCT Navratri · Deepavali

NOV Deepavali

DEC —

Ancestral prayers

Annually · date announced

Naik Bukit

Similar to Qing Ming or All Souls’ Day. Families return to the Melaka Chetti burial ground at Jelutong to clean the graves of relatives and make offerings of food and incense. It is a busy, social day rather than a sombre one.

January · eve of Ponggal

Parchu Ponggal

The first of two ancestral prayers each year, held on the eve of Ponggal.

June – July

Parchu Buah-buah

Held between June and July, with offerings of seasonal fruit such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan and duku-langsat.

Hindu festivals

Ponggal January · harvest festival

Hindu New Year April

Navratri September – October · nine nights

Deepavali October – November · festival of lights

Hear about dates

Members are told about Naik Bukit, Parchu and other gatherings once dates are set.

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