1,800 oil lamps illuminate festive spirit in Arau village

Kampung Jelempok in Arau is reviving the tradition of lighting oil lamps with 1,800 lamps illuminating a 1.5km stretch of the village. — Photos: Bernama

KAMPUNG Jelempok residents in Arau, Perlis, revived an old tradition by lighting 1,800 oil lamps in decorative patterns for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

This Pelita Raya@Aidilfitri project along a 1.5km stretch of the village aimed to foster community spirit.

Project director Aiman Muhaimin Purkhan, 28, said the villagers wanted to bring back nostalgia and strengthen ties within the community as well as brighten up the atmosphere for Aidilfitri celebrations.

The oil lamps were installed through donations and residents’ gotong-royong efforts, at an overall cost of around RM6,000, he said.

Youngsters enchanted by the oil lamps put up in the village in Perlis.

“The work to complete this project, including setting up the oil lamps, started before Ramadan,” he told Bernama.

Aiman said residents collected over 800 bamboo poles for the oil lamps, with the latter donated by the community.

After completing the decorations setup using the bamboo, they lit the oil lamps simultaneously to create a carnival-like atmosphere.

He said the extraordinary response from residents showed that the tradition was still relevant and should be continued in the future.

Aiman added that the project’s success had given them the confidence to make it an annual event in the village.

Visitor Noraziha Ali, 44, who witnessed the lighting of the lamps, said the project brought back memories of her childhood, when the pelita panjut (oil lamps) symbolised the festive cheer of Aidilfitri.

“Back then, almost every house would put up oil lamps, but now it is becoming less common.

The beloved Aidilfitri tradition of lighting oil lamps could even be expanded around Perlis.

“With programmes like these, at least the tradition can be revived,” she said.

Another visitor, Shahrizal Seman, 46, said the effort not only beautified the village but also strengthened the spirit of unity among residents.

Perlis youth and sports, science, technology, and innovation committee chairman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim said the initiative for the project had been proposed as a competition at state level.

“If the response continues to be as vibrant as this, we could organise a competition between villages in each constituency to further ignite the spirit of Aidilfitri,” he added.