Kuala Kangsar village keeps giant panjut tradition alive

2026-03-13 - 23:54

Villagers in Kampung Ribu are all smiles as they work hard to assemble the traditional bamboo structure known as panjut. (Bernama pic) KUALA KANGSAR: For the past two weeks, the quiet Ramadan nights in Kampung Ribu here have been filled with the sounds of hammering, saws scraping against bamboo, and the laughter of villagers after terawih prayers. In an open field, residents gather nightly to build a giant traditional oil lamp structure known as a panjut – a symbol of pride for the local community. For over a decade, lighting the giant panjut on the 27th night of Ramadan has been a cherished tradition in Kampung Ribu. Persatuan Penggemar Panjut Kampung Ribu chairman Amiruddin Mohd Lazim said the effort is more than just about decorating the village – it reflects a shared commitment to preserving Malay heritage. “If no one takes the initiative to organise it, it may eventually fade from memory and future generations may never experience it,” he told Bernama at the site. While the association was registered in 2019, community efforts to revive the tradition began five years prior. Today, the group has about 90 members, 20 of whom make up the core team responsible for building the display each year. Amiruddin Mohd Lazim. Amiruddin’s interested in panjut has also led him to explore historical archives, which revealed that large-scale panjut installations in the Padang Rengas area were reported in newspapers as early as 1963. “Back then, the structures featured logos and images of political parties as election season coincided with Ramadan and Raya. Over time, the practice evolved into a community tradition,” he explained. In the early 1990s, stretches of road from Kampung Jamuan to Kuala Kangsar town would be illuminated by panjut displays built by local communities. The practice then faded before being revived circa 2014 through competitions organised by then Padang Rengas MP Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. “Kampung Ribu emerged champion in 2016 and 2017, which encouraged us to continue even after the competition ended,” Amiruddin added. Despite the availability of LED lighting, the community relies on traditional materials such as wood, bamboo and traditional oil lamps. And to ensure precision, the design is drafted using AutoCAD software – a modern method rarely used by other villages. The village’s panjut design in 2024 was based on Negeri Sembilan’s Sri Sendayan Mosque. (Ahmad Syamil Abdullah Facebook pic) Association secretary and project technical head Ahmad Ridzuan Kamaruddin said construction of the panjut requires months of preparation, including felling and transporting bamboo. Between 130 and 150 bamboo poles are needed for the structure, although certain designs may require up to 200. Most of it is sourced from unused land owned by villagers. “It takes between 14 and 20 days to complete the entire structure before the oil lamps are lit on the 27th night of Ramadan,” Ahmad Ridzuan said. This year’s display recreates the structure of the Melaka Straits Mosque, which the village previously built in 2021. The installation is expected to stand at 9m tall and 15m wide, illuminated by between 1,200 and 1,400 oil lamps.