Religious festivals Borneo

Also known as Eid al-Kebir, which means "the great feast of sacrifice", Hari Raya Haji takes place on the 10th day of the last month of the Muslim calendar. The celebration marks the end of the Hajj or the return of the pilgrimage to Mecca. It celebrates the break with Judaism pronounced by the Prophet in 9 A.D. Hegira. It was from that date that Muslims turned to Mecca for their prayers. In the mosques of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, sheep are sacrificed. The meat is then distributed to the poorest people.

For the Chinese community, the Festival of the Dead is celebrated on the ^106th day after the winter solstice, and generally falls on April 4 or 5. This festival dedicated to the dead also marks the middle of spring. Families visit the graves of their loved ones to bring offerings, ward off evil spirits around the deceased and maintain the vaults. Candles and incense are lit to communicate. Ceremonies are also held in temples.