GOPENG: Traditional games like tuju tin, dart throwing, tarik upih, dam haji and congkak, along with participants dressed in classic Malay attire, stirred fond memories for visitors at the 2024 Malaysia Day celebration held near here.
About 50 attendees, dressed in 1950s and 1960s fashion, were transported back in time as they enjoyed classic tunes throughout the event at Balai Lintang Bagas Zakariah.
The retro atmosphere was enhanced by a wayang pacak (open-air movie screening) and visitors also participated in the lively joget lambak.
Bagas Zakariah manager Zaliha Hassan told Bernama that the programme’s unique theme, “Melayu Lama”, was designed to spark fond memories of the past, particularly for the younger generation.
“This is the first time we’ve held a celebration like this since Bagas Zakariah opened in 2019.
“In this digital age, the way we celebrate national month has changed, so we wanted to bring the classic Malay concept to life for this year’s Malaysia Day,” Zaliha said.
“Through this programme, visitors and homestay guests can get a taste of the past and relive a bit of that nostalgia,” she added.
Nur Farahin Yahya, 30, from Singapore, shared how she and her family took full advantage of their vacation in Perak by staying at the village homestay for a few days and participating in the activities.
“We’re from the city, so we’ve never experienced the charm of village life. Joining in traditional games, some of which I’ve never even played before, was a lot of fun,” said Nur Farahin, a housewife.
Another visitor, Fariza Ahmad Fahmi, 37, from Pengkalan, Ipoh, made the most of the school holidays by bringing her four children to the celebration.
“This kind of programme is fantastic. It introduces the younger generation to the uniqueness of past traditions and they had a great time playing traditional games,” she said.
Bagas Zakariah, located in Kampung Lawan Kuda, offers an immersive “kampung stay” experience.
It is perfect for those who have never lived in a village but want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
