PENANG HOW NOW

 
PENANG HOW NOW is a campaign by Penang Harmony Corporation (HARMONICO) to present Penang’s Houses of Worship (HOW) today in a fresh lens through interesting perspectives and stories. Telling current people-centric stories through Penang’s houses of worship to show how the different races of Penang live harmoniously and meld, forming hybrid cultures and traditions today.
 
This campaign name aims to draw the attention of locals, including the younger generation — sparking their interest to learn more about the melting pot of cultures they are surrounded by through interesting and engaging bite-sized HOW videos, photo and article content available through current medium and platforms.

YOUR EXPLORATION STARTS HERE

STREET OF HARMONY

Visiting Penang, you are sure to visit Georgetown. From a melting pot of cultures and historic gems that are preserved over a century, there is plenty to see and people to meet in Penang, especially in the Street of Harmony, one of the oldest roads in the city centre with harmony in diversity.

PENANG GURDWARAS

The oldest gurdwara in the country, Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang is 122 years old and will soon be listed as a national heritage site.

Visit the 6 gurdwaras in Penang now to learn more!

THNI KONG TNUA

Between the delicious food, local hangouts and must-see scenic spots, it’s hard to miss one of the most prominent and oldest icons of Air Itam.

Welcome to Thni Kong Tnua, a Taoist temple full of history and heritage to explore.

WATERFALL HILLTOP TEMPLE

Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple or better known as the Waterfall Hilltop Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated for Lord Murugan. Every year on Thaipusam, thousands of devotees flock the temple to pray and and paying respect to Lord Murugan. Touted as the largest Lord Murugan temple outside India, with a 7-storeys gopuram, Waterfall Hilltop Temple is never empty without visitor.

MINOR BASILICA OF ST ANNE

Minor Basilica of St. Anne is a Roman Catholic church located in Bukit Mertajam, Mainland Penang. It is one of the parishes in the Diocese of Penang. Its annual celebration of the feast of St Anne regularly attracts over 100,000 pilgrims from Malaysia as well as neighbouring countries  The celebrations lasts for 10 days, and includes the actual feast day on 26 July.

FIRE-WALKING PRAYERS (SPECIAL SERIES)

The Sree Maha Mariamman Devasthanam is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Butterworth. Every year the temple will celebrate Theemithi or more commonly known as ‘the Fire-Walking Prayers’ between May to July.

BUTTERWORTH LAY BUDDHIST SOCIETY 北海佛教居士林

Butterworth Lay Buddhist Society (BLBS) is a Buddhist organization located in Butterworth, Mainland Penang. BLBS stands out as the harmonious intersection of 3 main branches of Buddhism, namely Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Unlike other Buddhist temples, BLBS does not house any monks or nuns. 

FEAST OF ST ANNE

This Christian festival is very possibly the largest second only to Christmas in Malaysia. There is often a celebratory ambience on the church premises due to the stalls and booths erected but also from the pilgrims’ congenial mood. 

STREET OF HARMONY SEBERANG JAYA

A total of 8 houses of worship reside within this enclave, with a mosque on the other side of the BKE. Hindu Temples, Buddhist Temple, Taoist Temple, Sikh Gurdwara, Christian Church and Muslim Mosque coexist, grow and support each other regardless of the difference in faith.

PENANG BUDDHIST MEDITATION SANCTUARIES

Meditation is practised in all Buddhist traditions as a means of cultivating the mind. Penang as a state with diverse religion practices is blessed to be home to numerous outstanding meditation centres, both in urban and rural areas.

WATERFALL SHREE MUNISWARAR TEMPLE

Passing by Jalan Kebun Bunga, you will surely notice a number of cars lining up in front of the Waterfall Shree Muniswarar Temple. Each month, the temple receives hundreds of peoples of many religious backgrounds coming from all corners of Penang, even from as far as Singapore for blessing.

BODHI HEART SANCTUARY

Penang Bodhi Heart Sanctuary is a quaint and beautiful place tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city at Mount Erskine, Penang Island. The sanctuary opened its doors in 2006 and till date is operated by laities. 

The Nattukottai Chettiar Temple is a temple of the Chettiar community in Penang. It was founded around 1854, after the Chettiar community in Penang Street bought the piece of land to build the chettiar quarters.

Penang Thaipusam is a three-day celebration that sees devotees clad in yellow and saffron, bearing milk pots on their heads or kavadis with body and facial piercings, seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks to Lord Murugan.

Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple at Jalan Kebun Bunga is the temple of the Ayira Vaisyar Indian community. The present temple building was completed in 1989, and dedicated to the bottle chettiar’s patron deity, Meenachi Amman and Sundraewarar (Siva). The consecration of the temple was carried out on 9 February 1998.