Main Gasing

Giant top spinning is a game popular in the northern part of the State, especially in the district of Besut. These tops, flat and round and shaped like a discus, are made of wood and weigh about 5kg. They are played by adults and are taken seriously as a game that requires strength, agility and precision. Players are pitted against each other to see who can make a top spin the longest. It has been shown that the tops can spin for two hours and sometimes more. Each player tightly winds the circumference of his top with a long piece of rope and then in a quick jerking motion throws the top to the ground spinning it at great speed. The tops are then scooped up using a special tool and placed in a row on a wooden display rack. The spinning of each top is then timed to see which spins the longest.

Boat Building

Terengganu is well known for its artisanal skills in boat making for centuries. Using no blue prints and no nails, the boat makers of Pulau Duyong are world famous for crafting boats by hand. And we are not just talking about fishing vessels used by our fishermen; bespoke ocean faring wooden boats have been built here. Private individuals from the USA and New Zealand have known to have purchased their boats from our boat makers. Indeed, the skills and craftsmanship of Terengganu boat builders have attracted the attention of many yacht and boat enthusiasts from all over the world.

The skills of these boat builders are highly prized due to their meticulous attention to detail where their crafting is only guided by pure memory and past experience. As mentioned, the original boat builders of the past do not rely on blue prints but their numbers are unfortunately dwindling.

Using only the best woods, in this case, cengal wood, whose availability or lack of it have been known to have delayed orders. Craftsmanship and integrity are what have shaped the vocation of these boat builders and they will not settle anything less than the best.

The number of boat builders from Pulau Duyong has dwindled to just a few. However, the government has taken steps through its agencies to train the younger generation in the craft and hopefully to keep this heritage industry alive. It would be a sad state of event if this industry is not revived soon. And it is hoped that with visitors descending on Pulau Duyong to learn about the glorious past of the boat building industry, this would encourage and boost the young to take on the vocation and continue on and preserve this industry which has been the pride of our history for centuries.

Keris Making

The keris is a traditional Malay dagger and is regarded as a cultural symbol of the Malays. The keris is meant to not only physically protect the wearer and owner but is believed to hold mystical powers that further shields its owner from further harm. Legend has it that the owner would know danger lurking if the keris starts to rattle in its sheath!

The shape of the keris is quite unique and not found in any other weapon or dagger in the world. It has curves or waves that give the keris its unique identity. The keris is also a revered object and is part of the royal regalia.

The keris’ beauty is made complete by the intricately carved wooden handle or hilt that sometimes depicts the shape of a kingfisher or other objects inspired by nature.

The best keris makers are found in Kampung Pasir Panjang and Kampung Ladang Titian in Kuala Terengganu.

Woodcarving

One of the oldest professions practiced by locals is wood carving and carpentry. Terengganu wood artisans are known for their skills to not only make beautiful wood carvings but also for building boats and traditional houses without the use of nails. In traditional homes, wood carving ventilation panels are placed above doors and windows, which add aesthetic value as well.

The wood carvers today draw inspirations from Islamic designs, plants and nature, and interpret their work by carving intricate flowery motifs, Quranic verses and Islamic geometrical designs. No animals or human beings are depicted. However, some of these motifs have existed for hundreds of years and were derived from the pre-Islamic era and were visual interpretations of legends and myths. Each motif had its story of origination but with the coming of Islam, the interpretation of the motifs changed to suit what was acceptable to the religion.

An excellent destination for cultural enthusiasts is the Desa Ukiran Kayu (Wood Carving Village) in Kg Raja, Besut. There are workshops and classes for budding wood carvers and it is evolving to become the centre for vocational excellence. It is worth a visit as you will not only see the wood carvers at work, you will also appreciate the buildings in the Village, which were built to showcase traditional Terengganu Malay architecture.

Weaving Crafts (Mengkuang)

Vibrant, practical and light, our mengkuang products make great souvenirs. Get hold of a purse, bag or jewellery box for your personal use. Or look out for our cone shaped colourful “tudung saji” or food cover, which is a staple and a must-buy to keep away the dust and flies from getting to the food. Our innovative mengkuang products have come a long way and fit well in a modern home. 

The art of weaving of dried leaves of various plants has been a part many indigenous cultures for centuries. In Terengganu, it is the pandanus amaryllifolius or screw pine leaves (not the ones used for cooking but a sturdier version with prickly leaves) that are commonly used to make household items such as floor mats, rice holders, food covers and different kinds of bags and baskets. Some new products that have been introduced in recent times include purses and lamp shades, sometimes innovatively combined with textile to widen its use and appeal.

Brass

One of the better purchases that you will not regret making is a brass pot for your cooking needs. Superb at retaining heat, our cooks swear that food tastes better when preparing dishes from a brass pot. 

Terengganu has a 300-year old brass industry and was once Malaysia’s top producer of brass products. There are two types of grades for brass, one is yellow brass and the other is white brass, the former being of higher quality and used for home ornaments and gifts. Some of the products made from brass are tepak sireh, candelabras, bowls, food trays and pots for cooking.

Batik

Get a piece of Terengganu batik piece either to wear or as a souvenir for a loved one at home. Our fabrics are quite diverse in their styles and use. Terengganu is known as the biggest producer of batik, from the stamped traditional sarong versions to the more elaborate and vibrant hand-painted batiks for both casual and evening wear.

The hand-painted batik are more western inspired and liberal in its use of patterns and colors and sometimes mixed with traditional motifs drawn from nature and traditional elements.

Batik has universal uses and can be adapted to any product. Most popular products using batik textiles are bed sheets, cushion covers, book covers, place mats, and table runners and cloths.

Songket Weaving

Centuries-old art of textile weaving, the songket is one of Terengganu’s top products whose weavers are considered to be the best in the country.

Songket is a brocade, where gold and silver threads are woven on a cotton or silk base where the motifs “float” to form beautiful pieces. Considered a luxury textile, its place in Malay culture is regarded as a must-wear for ceremonial dresses and costumes, worn by both men and women. The production of a songket piece can take weeks or months depending on its length and the intricate patterns that are employed.

Depending on the grade of the songket, which is determined by the intricate weft and patterns, pieces can fetch a very high price, some as high as RM80,000 or more. However, most pieces are priced between RM500 to RM8000. It is often handed down to family members as heirlooms.

Joget Gamelan

The Joget Gamelan is a court dance that exudes grace, dignity and beauty.

The Gamelan Melayu had its roots in Riau-Lingga (a province of Sumatra) and was introduced to the Terengganu Court in the 1920s by the late HRH Tengku Ampuan Mariam, a princess from Pahang who later became the consort of HRH Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah, the Sultan of Terengganu from 1914 to 1942. The Joget Gamelan as it is called, comes with a nine-piece ensemble and is now performed at many state organized events, including the Sultan’s birthday and cultural events.

In its glory days (1920s and 1930s) dancers were sometimes “possessed” by spirits who made them lose their senses and made them go into a trance. No explanation was recorded as to why this happened but in a land where superstitions and beliefs in spirits exist, the hysterics raised was a common occurrence, especially when performances were done late into the night.

Much to our relief, the Joget Gamelan dance is now performed without the mystical occurrences that it once had.

Visitors are welcome to witness a performance at the following venue, on Saturday mornings at 1100 hrs.

Venue: Warisan Sari, Laman Santai Gamelan, Kg Tok Jembal.

For enquiries and directions to the venue, call the following numbers: +6017 9263395; +60199292066; +6019 9786607 and +6013 9374747.

Ulek Mayang Dance

“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned”. In the tale of Ulek Mayang, it was the princess spirit!

 According to legend, during an outing at sea, a Princess Spirit was infatuated with a fisherman and cast him a spell that made him unconscious. A medium was called to revive him and this led to a war of wills between the Princess Spirit and the medium. Having persuaded by the sisters of the Princess, she had to let go albeit with one condition, that the fishermen have to give occasional offerings to appease her.

The Ulek Mayang dance reenacts the legend and includes scenes of the Ulek Mayang ritual. In the past, it was also known to actually “awake the spirits” whenever the dance was performed and this would affect at least one member (usually a woman) of the audience into being “possessed”. Alas, none of this happens nowadays!

Culture

One of the many destinations in Malaysia, Terengganu stands out as having one of the most amazing and beautiful natural attractions. It is also rich in history, arts and culture.

Land of Artisans The state known is known for having many of Malaysia’s leading craftsmen and artisans in songket, batik, brass, wood carving, boat building, and traditional carpentry. In essence Terengganu has contributed and shaped many elements of Malay culture.

Terengganu’s boat building skills, crafted by hand without the use of blueprints and nails, is one of the many impressive accomplishments of Terengganu craftsmen.

And our songket weavers are known for their intricate designs and innovativeness to fuse the old with the new. We have a 300-year old brass industry, one of its kind in the country. Terengganu is also Malaysia’ top batik producer.

Fascinating Cuisine

Many tourists from Malaysia seek out our cuisine too. Some of our notable popular dishes include nasi dagang (regarded as the State dish, made of steamed glutinous and normal rice eaten with a tuna fish curry), sata (a kind of fish paté), keropok lekor (fish sausage), keropok (fish crackers) and a variety of traditional sweets, some with whimsical names.