KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Embassy in Tehran, Iran, hosted a “Baleh Makan” celebration last night in conjunction with Malaysia Day, to highlight the rich traditions of Malaysian cuisine and performing arts while celebrating bilateral ties between the two countries.
The exchange of cultural and culinary delights was named “Baleh Makan” to combine elements from both the Malay and Farsi languages.
“Baleh” comes from the Malay word “Boleh”, meaning “can”, while in Farsi, “Bale” translates to “yes”, the embassy said in a press statement.
“This shared linguistic link reflects the cultural parallels between the two nations.
“‘Makan’, meaning “eating” in Malay, serves as the perfect theme for an evening centred around food and communal dining, symbolizing unity and friendship,” it added.
His Excellency Khairi bin Omar, Ambassador of Malaysia to Iran, hosted the event, featuring a Malaysian chef presenting a selection of authentic Malaysian dishes which draw from the country’s diverse gastronomic traditions.
The centrepiece of the evening was a traditional Malaysian Kenduri (feast), featuring a selection of iconic Malaysian dishes, namely, nasi tomato, ayam masak merah, lamb biryani, fried fish with lemon sauce, prawn sambal, vegetable pickles or ‘acar’, and for desert, a coconut milk pudding with gula melaka.
A wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performance capped the event and was notable for its staging by a group of Iranian artists who studied the traditional Malay art.
They performed the story of Siavash, a well-known Iranian folk tale, in a harmonious blend of Malaysian and Iranian traditions.
“The performance exemplified the strong cultural bonds between the two nations and highlighted the power of cross-cultural exchange. This fusion of an Iranian narrative and Malaysian puppetry is a testament to the growing cultural ties between the two countries,” the embassy said.
Ambassador Khairi, meanwhile, said the event and special wayang kulit performance “symbolises the rich interconnection between our two nations”.
The event was attended by diplomats from various embassies, business leaders, academics, and cultural figures, with VIP guests from the host country, Alii Asghar Mohammadi, the Director General of Asia and Oceania Affairs, and Mohsen Afsharchi, the Honourable Governor of Zanjan. — September 29, 2024