2,000 oil lamps used to light up Ipoh Padang

Ejam Abdullah lighting an oil lamp during the festival organised by Ipoh City Council. – Photos: Bernama

TO KEEP the pelita panjut or oil lamp tradition alive, Ipoh City Council (MBI) has taken the initiative to organise a decoration competition between departments within the local authority.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the maiden internal competition would be included in the tourism calendar next year to encourage participation from the public.

“We are trying to bring back the nostalgia (associated with such lamps) so the younger generation will not forget their cultural traditions.

The public admiring the beauty of oil lamps at the Panjut Festival organised in Ipoh Padang.

“Over the years, these oil lamps have been replaced with modern and colourful decorative lights, so we are taking this initiative in conjunction with the Visit Ipoh Year 2023,” he told reporters after the MBI Inter-Sector Panjut Festival launching ceremony at Ipoh Padang.

Rumaizi said about 2,000 oil lamps were used to create four panjut decorations.

He added that the oil lamps would be lit until the third day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri to give Ipoh folk the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of pelita panjut.

Ipoh Padang was chosen as the location for the competition as it is situated in the centre of the city and is part of the Ipoh Tourism Triangle. — Bernama