Diwali Hindu festival of lights celebrated in Kedah

Hindu devotees perform prayers at their temple during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights celebrations. Diwali falls on the first day of the seventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Malaysia. 26th October 2011

Deepavali or Diwali popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-November for different reasons. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.

 

Demographics

Demographics

Kedah has a relatively heterogeneous populace constituted by the three major ethnic groups; the Malays, Chinese and Indians, similar to most of the other Malaysian states.

Religion

Religion in Kedah - 2010 Census[12]
religion			percent
Islam			77.2%
Buddhism			14.2%
Hinduism			6.7%
Christianity			0.8%
Chinese Ethnic Religion			0.3%
Other			0.7%
No religion			0.1%

As of 2010 the population of Kedah is 77.2% Muslim, 14.2% Buddhist, 6.7% Hindu, 0.8% Christian, 0.3% Taoist or Chinese religion follower, 0.7% follower of other religions, and 0.1% non-religious.

Kedah: Legends and mystical beauty

Kedah, the home state of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is known for world-renowned Langkawi – the island paradise of the legendary Mahsuri.
What is lesser known are the serene, rolling hills, the rich archaeological sites and the scenic waterfalls. From relaxing sightseeing to strenuous outdoor activities like diving and hiking, Kedah has a lot to offer.
Many stop over in Alor Star on their way to Thailand or before turning off to Langkawi. This quaint town with historical buildings is not without charm. Thai heritage is particularly evident in relics and temples set against the modern skyline of the capital.
Revisit the childhood days of Dr Mahathir at Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir, which was restored and gazetted as a historical building in 1992.

The Panorama Langkawi cable car ride is an exhilirating experience.

A tour of the house gives a glimpse of Dr Mahathir’s growing up years. Photographs, furniture, household items and even his favourite bicycle are displayed.
Other historical buildings include the Balai Besar, an impressive wooden edifice with traces of Thai architecture. Built in 1898, this “great hall” is used frequently for royal and state occasions.
Not too far from it is the Balai Seni Negri or State Art Gallery with its collection of paintings, antiques and historical relics.
The Balai Nobat houses the sacred instruments of the royal orchestra, played only during royal ceremonies such as inaugurations, weddings and funerals.
For those into naval history, the Royal Boat House will be interesting. The antique royal boats are kept in mint condition and visitors can read about their origins and usage.
When tired of sightseeing, try out the Pekan Rabu, or the Open Bazaar. It’s nothing like your neighbourhood supermarket, but one can still find almost anything and everything there – from local farm produce to handicrafts.
The mountains and hills of Kedah have lovely picnic spots with lush greenery, cool mountain streams and fresh air.

Try out the Pekan Rabu, or the Open Bazaar, where you can find almost anything and everything – from local farm produce to handicrafts.

Spend a day with nature, at the scenic Puncak Janing Waterfalls in Padang Terap, about 25km from Alor Star.
For some sun and sand, Pantai Merdeka in the outskirts of Alor Star is ideal. One can laze for hours on the white sandy beach amidst swaying palms, or try out water sports like water skiing and sailing.

Gunung Jerai

Formerly known as Kedah Peak, Gunung Jerai rises 1,200m above sea level. On a clear day, you get breathtaking views of rolling rice fields, the mysterious emerald sea and the islands of Langkawi.
The phenomena surrounding the peak is fascinating. Recent archaeological findings show the existence of the Temple on the Ninth Water pool (Chandi Telaga Sembilan), believed to be the private pool of the mythical Raja Bersiong or the king with fangs.

Lembah Bujang

Lembah Bujang, the valley at the foot of Gunung Jerai is one of Malaysia’s richest archaeological area with its history as an ancient centre of Hindu civilisation within the region. Numerous temples (chandi) were found along Sungai Bujang, a few of which have been restored to their original form using the same original materials.
At the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum in Pengkalan Bujang, Merbok, one can see the numerous artificial stone caskets, gem stones, beads which tell of the history of the ancient civilisations.

Visitors check out the remnants of Bukit Batu Pahat temple from the ancient Hindu-Buddhist Malay Kingdom on the grounds of Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum in Merbok, Kedah. The site is home to Malaysia’s oldest civilisations dating back to more than 1,500 years.

Langkawi

This archipelago of 104 paradise islands is full of legend and mystic. While Langkawi’s main attraction is its white sandy beaches and clear water, the island is not nicknamed Pulau Lagenda for nothing.
The most famous legend is that of Mahsuri, who is said to have cursed the island for seven generations. Luckily, the seven generations have passed and Langkawi Island is fast gaining popularity among tourists worldwide.

Pulau Payar

For more adventure, go off the beaten track to Pulau Payar, which can be reached by ferry from Pulau Langkawi. The marine park has gorgeous coral gardens, and if you are lucky, you might even spot a dolphin or two.

Pedu Lake

Where else can you dream of coming across elephants and tigers while enjoying the clear waters of one of Malaysia’s most beautiful lakes?
A prime eco-tourist destination, Pedu Lake boasts of wide array of flora and fauna. The 12km-long lake is situated in the middle of virgin rainforest, approximately 5km from the Malaysian-Thai border. An ideal holiday spot for the whole family, there is so much to do here – water sports, fishing, camping, bird watching and even golfing.
For those interested in jungle-trekking, the lush jungle is home to a plethora of wildlife – including deer, wild boar, leopards, birds, bats and albino snakes.

Serene Pedu Lake in northeast Kedah.

With specially created hideouts and canopy walks, nature lovers can enjoy the wilds in comfort. And the adventure doesn’t stop when night falls and the cacophony of jungle insects, the hooting of night owls, and the strange cries of wild animals evoke a mysterious world. On a moonlit night, it’s almost surreal.

Ulu Muda

This large animal reserve in north-eastern Kedah is a good alternative to Taman Negara. Camping facilities are available, and no special equipment is needed. Facilities for tourists are limited, but that is the fun.
High Adventure Travel, in Kedah, has some interesting nature tours here, including jungle treks to observe elephants in the wild.
To learn more about Kedah, visit the website of the Tourism Ministry (Kedah highlight).

http://allmalaysia.info/2012/06/25/kedah-legends-and-mystical-beauty/

Introduction

Kedah (also known by its honorific, Darul Aman, or "Abode of Peace"^{[citation needed]}) is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice. Langkawi is an archipelago of islands, most of which are uninhabited. Kedah was called Kadaram (Tamil:காடாரம்) by Tamil people and Syburi (Thai: ไทรบุรี; RTGS: Sai Buri) by the Siamese when it was under their influence.^[3]
Kedah borders the state of Perlis and shares an international boundary with the Songkhla and Yala provinces of Thailand to the north. It also borders the state of Perak to the south and Penang to the southwest.
The state's capital is Alor Setar and the royal seat is in Anak Bukit. Other major towns include Sungai Petani, and Kulim on the mainland, and Kuah on Langkawi

Flag :

Kedah is also known as "Jelapang padi Malaysia" - (Economic resourse)

Kedah is considered the "rice bowl"(Malay: Jelapang Padi) of Malaysia, accounting for one about a half of Malaysia's total production of rice. In 2008, the state government banned the conversion of padi fields to housing and industrial lots to protect the rice industry.
Tourism, particularly on the island of Langkawi is of growing importance.
More recently, Kedah has forged its economy towards the automotive and aerospace industries with Modenas and Asian Composites setting up bases here.^{[citation needed]} One of the main advantages is the low labour costs and the infrastructure in place with the North-South Expressway and the Penang International Airport close by. In 1996, the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) was officially opened as the first high technology industrial park in Malaysia. The Park comprises a total land area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres (5.6 mi²).
According to the Ninth Malaysia Plan, this economic area is part of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER). The Northern Corridor Economic Region is one of three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia; other development regions being the Iskandar Malaysia (or South Johor Economic Region) and the East Coast Development Region.


Link : http://www.kengsengchoo.com/news/kedah-artists-showcase-the-laid-back-rice-planting-environment-in-exhibition.html

 

 http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=273513

Education

 

AIMST University

Public universities and colleges

The state has a campus of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), which is located in Bandar Baru Sintok. It was formally incorporated on 16 February 1984. The University was established with the specific mission of providing a leadership role for management education in the country. The academic establishments in UUM include College of Business (COB), College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS) and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
Kedah also has several public universities and colleges such as Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Merbok, the Malaysian Spanish Institute of Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL MSI) and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultanah Bahiyah (PSB) in Kulim, the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST University) in Bedong, Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) in Mergong and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in Jitra.
There are 2 teacher training institution in Kedah, Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH) in Sungai Petani and Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Darul Aman (IPGKDA) in Bandar Darulaman that are set up by the government to provide teaching courses for trainee teachers.

Private universities and colleges

Private universities and colleges that are located in Kedah include the Open University of Malaysia (OUM) Regional Learning Center for the state of Kedah and Perlis at Sungai Petani, the Albukhary International University in Alor Setar, Pusat Bahasa Titian Jaya the PTPL College and the Cosmopoint College.

Technical institutes

Kedah houses three technical institutes that are affiliated with MARA, that is Institut Kemahiran MARA Sungai Petani, Institut Kemahiran MARA Alor Setar and Institut Kemahiran MARA Sik.

Boarding school

MRSM Merbok in Kedah

This state also has several boarding schools such as Sekolah Berasrama Penuh and MARA Junior Science College or MRSM.

Private and Public Schools

Chio Min Secondary School, Kulim, Kedah.

Consists of several private and public primary school or secondary school. Public secondary school such as SMK Taman Jelutong, Keat Hwa Secondary School, Convent Secondary School (Formerly known as St. Nicholas Convent Secondary School), Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid,Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Badlishah, Sin Min Secondary School, Chio Min Secondary School,SMK Sultanah Asma, SMK Convent Father Barre, SMK Khir Johari, SMK Aman Jaya, SMK Bedong, SMK Bakar Arang, SMK Darulaman, SMK Ibrahim, SMK Jitra, SMK Mahsuri, SMK Tunku Panglima Besar, Keat Hwa Secondary School and etc. Private secondary school such as Keat Hwa High School, Sin Min High School and SM Sin Min.

Homestay in Kedah

One of the best ways to experience the local’s culture and heritage is through homestay. Homestay programmes provide an opportunity to visitors to experience the warm hospitality and traditional lifestyle of the locals at the rustic kampung or known as villages. These villages adhere to the strict rules imposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and the National Homestay Association. So, rest assured that everything is well planned and taken care of during your stay here.
Below are two of the homestay destinations that you could opt for if you prefer to live the way the locals do.

Kampung Relau Homestay

If you prefer a rustic, laid-back country living, Kampung Relau is the place for you. The small traditional Malay rural township is located away in the Bandar Baharu district Southern Kedah. The adopted family here will demonstrate how the stress-free way of life is still being preserved until today. You could also learn how to cook delish traditional Malay dishes and join in some of their country folk pastimes.

Kampung Raga Homestay

At Kampung Raga Homestay, you could take a dip at the Batu Hampar or Titi Hayun Waterfalls located at the foothills of Gunung Jerai. Else, you could also opt to trek up the Gunung Jerai all the way from Yan. This four-hour trek takes climbers past shady canopies, medicinal herbs and exotic plants to Tangga Kenari 1000 Tahun which is the gateway to Gunung Jerai from Yan.