In the southern region of Thailand, Thai Malays convene every year for the Eid al-Fitr celebrations at Pantai Taluban in Sai Buri, Patani.
This grand event was held for its third consecutive time this year, drawing a significant number of attendees who proudly displayed their rich cultural heritage to commemorate the occasion.
The Eid al-Fitr celebration holds great significance for the Malay community who have been a minority group in Thailand for decades.
The festival provides a platform for them to showcase their cultural identity and celebrate their heritage.
A TikTok video uploaded by user @kakijalae, also known as Adnan Fatoni captured the event in its entirety.
@kakijalae Suasana #MelayuRaya ♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – KakiJalaeนักเดินเท้า
The video shows attendees from all walks of life, enjoying the traditional Malay martial art or silat performances.
The crowd is awe-inspiring and stretches as far as the eye can see. In the video, Adnan interacts with the attendees in Thai and asks them about their attire.
He said he was amazed by the overwhelming turnout of people who came together to partake in the celebration of Eid.
The video received widespread appreciation among Malay internet users, who hailed the community for showcasing their culture with pride and perseverance.
On his social media accounts, Adnan is an advocate for Malay culture around the archipelago.
In his videos, he travels around to landmarks and also explores how Malay culture is being embraced in places like Thailand and Vietnam where Malays are the minority.
Malay people in Thailand?
Thai Malays and their cultural and linguistic identity have been suppressed for many years.
During the early 20th century, the Thai government annexed the region and attempted to assimilate the Malay population into Thai culture. This led to the suppression of Malay culture, language, and religion.
This suppression led to a long-standing separatist insurgency in the southern region of Thailand, led by Malay nationalist groups.
The insurgency has been ongoing for decades, and it has resulted in thousands of deaths and significant destabilization of the region.
Despite these challenges, the Thai Malay community has proven to be resilient and determined in preserving their culture and identity.
The recent Eid al-Fitr celebration is one example of their efforts to assert their cultural practices and celebrate their heritage.
Thai Malays in the region are also showcasing their creativity and devotion by constructing elaborately designed gates for their places of worship.
Last month, a group of young Thai Malay men, dressed in baju Melayu and carrying canes at a train station, gained attention on social media. Many people praised the group for their efforts in upholding the Malay tradition.
Embracing Malay cultural diversity
Thailand, like Malaysia, also celebrates Eid with great enthusiasm and joy, particularly in the southern part of the country where Muslims make up the majority.
Both Thai Malays and Malaysian Malays have a long history of cultural and economic exchange, dating back to the time when both regions were part of the Malay Archipelago. This historical connection has resulted in the sharing of many cultural and linguistic elements between the two groups.
Meanwhile, these groups speak a form of Malay, although there are some differences in the dialects and accents used in each region. But there are still plenty of similarities when it comes to traditional clothing, food, and even music and dance.
Malay culture is after all strongly influenced by the cultures of other areas, which results in the many diverse ways it is being embraced in the region, and around the world.
