Yalinie Mathan
The Cultural Exchange Festival opens in Banda Hilir, Melaka, on Saturday, 31 October. Six countries will bring dance, music and crafts to the grounds of the Malacca Malay Sultanate Palace Museum.
The National Heritage Department is organising the three-day programme, Bernama reported. Organisers aim for 30,000 visitors.
Here is what is planned, who is taking part and what to check before you go.
What the festival brings to Banda Hilir
The festival runs from 31 October to 2 November. The main venues are the palace museum grounds, the People’s Museum and the Malay and Islamic World Museum.
Saturday is the highlight. A Cross-Cultural Heritage Parade will follow the opening ceremony along the Banda Hilir area.
Organisers also plan seminars, talks and a workshop. There will be exhibitions on cultural exchange, plus craft shows.
The aim is to build ties between cultures. RTM said the event also shares know-how about heritage. It is a chance to learn.
Food is part of the programme too. The reports did not list the stalls or menus. Come hungry and ask around. Local dishes are a big part of any Melaka trip.
A steering committee guides the festival. Melaka State Secretary Datuk Wira Salhah Salleh chairs it, with a deputy secretary-general from the ministry.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture backs the event through the National Heritage Department. The Melaka government and a UNESCO-linked regional centre for intangible heritage are also involved.
Performances and the six countries
Malaysia, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand will take part, RTM reported. Malaysian states will join too.
Performances by the visiting countries and states take place on 31 October and 1 November. The programme includes gamelan, wayang kulit and lion dances.
Mak Yong will also be staged. It is a Malay dance-theatre with old roots. Organisers call it intangible heritage.
Mek Mulung is on the list as well. It is a folk play from the north.
Melaka’s own Dondang Sayang will feature too. It is a type of sung verse, sung in pairs.
Kelantan’s wayang kulit is a shadow puppet show. It will also be on stage.
Chingay and lion dances from China add colour. Both are lively street shows. The Capital Post also listed the line-up.
Planning your visit
The Cultural Exchange Festival spans three days, so you can pick the day that suits you best. Saturday has the parade.
The reports did not give admission details. Check with the National Heritage Department or the Melaka tourism office before you travel.
They also did not give the parade route or start time. Arrive early on Saturday if you want a good spot.
Parking and shuttle plans were not announced either. Banda Hilir can get busy on festival days, so bring water and a hat.
The reports listed no programme for 2 November, so check before planning that day. Families may want to go on Saturday or Sunday. These are the main days.
Melaka had other heritage events this month. The Three Lords Festival at Sam Tiong Keng Temple drew hundreds of devotees on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Melaka plans a rebuilt Pasar Besar Melaka Sentral. Budget 2027 funds three sites with Unesco recognition potential.
CJMY
Sashidaran Gunathevan
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