Destinations
RENTAK SELANGOR 6.0 A Kaleidoscopic Spectacle of Cultures Te x t b y S H A H I DA S A K E R I Images by AZREEN ZEEN
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Rentak Selangor continues to celebrate Selangor’s rich cultural legacy in its sixth edition; this time focussing on the performing arts that have been flourishing in the districts of Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor where its communities are predominantly of Javanese lineage. Interestingly, despite the many years that have gone by since the first generation of Javanese people immigrated to this part of Malaysia, the customs and traditions from their place of origin prevail. But of course, this is not to say that such legacies have not met with the inevitable pressure of local assimilation and reformation, all of which are explored during this programme. Speaking at the opening ceremony, The Honourable Borhan Bin Aman Shah (the Selangor State Executive Councillor for Rural and Traditional Villages Development, Malay Customs, Culture and Heritage) shares that the programme sees a new addition, which is the syair, a classical Malay poetry that is recited in set rhythms. He hopes the programme can help increase the public’s appreciation towards Selangor’s cultural spectacles, and eventually cement the state’s position as a hub for art, culture, and national heritage. Read on to discover the cultural assets found in Selangor this time around.
