Local traditions and culture in Negeri Kelantan

Kelantan is famous for batik - a floral textile design which use wax to segrate different color dyeing processes.

Most people will buy sarongs with batik design. A sarong is multi-purpose outfit worn by men and women. Sarong is also used for bathing or sleeping and even as a hammock for babies.

Besides batik, other Kelantanese cultural items are the wau (kites), Kelantan silver ware and silver brocades and jellewery, spinning tops, singing merboks (pigeons) and the wayang kulit (shadow puppet plays).

Kelantan is probably the most conservative state in Malaysia.

Muslim women are expected to wear the scarf at work in the state government sector.

Travellers are expected to dress conservative, not in revealling clothes, or sleeveless T-shirts or singlets and shorts even for men.

No untoward actions will probably be taken against visitors. But probably you would be deemed to be a poorlyl informed traveller who is oblivious of local etiquette and decorum.

Why not follow the Romans when in Rome. Put on your most conservative wardrobe and enjoy Kelantan traditional hospitality.

Kelantan is a conservative state since it's been under an Islamic party rule for more than a decade. Some supermarkets have separate queues for males and females. The swimming pools segregate the crowd by gender. Some public benches and wakafs also have signs warning against mixing of males and females. Although I've seen the rules flouted most of the time, it's a good idea to respect their sensitivities. The Kelantanese are very friendly and warm people and would go all out to help any travellers.

I suppose kelantan is always unique. A law in physic says a particle will move in a straight line unless force is acted on it. There is quite a zig zag in my life, all because of my encounter with a number of kelantanese.

They are nice people.
Their accent is romantic.
There will be wakaf around to sit and talk.
There will be semutar to put on to shield yourself from the hot sunny noon.
There will be a bank called BANK KERAPU for you to look at.

and be nice to them and they will be nice to you.

When in Kelantan, take not of following additional state holidays besides the nationwide public holidays.

10 & 2 April 2007 Sunday & Monday
Birthday of Sultan of Kelantan

29 September 2007 Saturday
Nuzul Al-Qur'an
(Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu only)

People in Kelantan dont really mixed around with opposite sex as much s other states... so if u are a lady think twice before u let a man touch ya... and vice versa... also its not advisable for a lady to shake hand with a man... especially the old folks in kelantan.. they will look at ya with that "BIG Question Mark" in their eyes

In Kelantan, those of you planning to take a trip or just visiting the MOSQUE!
FEMALE :- make sure u wear scarft and cover your head.. its a must and also wear somthing to cover ya body that is... NO SHORTS or even some SEE-thru attire...

MEN:- wear Long Pants / SARONG ...

and also sit at one corner (if u wanna snap photos) not infront of someone who is praying that is - its considered as a respect that is. Dont talk aloud in the mosque .