Jewels in Johor's landscape
Various houses of worship in the state’s capital city reflect its history of multiculturalism
THERE are numerous pre-war buildings in the state's capital city and each has an interesting history behind it.
Johor is made up of 10 districts which include Johor Baru, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kulaijaya, Muar, Kota Tinggi, Segamat, Pontian, Ledang and Mersing.
Johor residents often refer to the state's capital city Johor Baru, as "bandar".
Historians tell us that the Johor Sultanate ruled over Johor, which was then known as Jauhar, since the 14th century.
Johor originated from the Arabic word jauhar, which meant gem or jewel.
Johor Baru was then known as Tanjung Puteri, or the Princess's Cape.
Johor Baru survived and succeeded even during the British colonialism in 1914 and the Japanese occupation in 1942.
Johor is also known for its people who are multicultural, with different beliefs, and religions, but work as a unit, otherwise known as Bangsa Johor.
Evidence of this unity is the houses of worship in the capital city.
One of the most unique and beautiful houses of worship is the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, which was constructed between 1892 and 1900.
The mosque in Jalan Skudai here is magnificent and is still in operation today.
The mosque sits on top of a hill, once known as Bukit Redan, for the Redan trees that dominated the hill.
Redan or nephelium glabrum is from the Sapindaceae family. The tree bears fruit that is similar to rambutan and pulasan but is much smaller in size.
The Abu Bakar Mosque overlooking the Straits of Johor is named after the father of Sultan Sir Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar, who ordered the construction of the mosque.
For the Chinese community, there is the Old Chinese Temple, on Jalan Trus, that was built in the 19th century.
The temple is believed to be more than 130 years old, including its bronze bell, joss stick pot and wooden tablet.
There are five remaining deities in the temple that are worshipped by the Chinese of the Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Hainan descents.
The Arulmigu Rajamariamman Temple was built in 1911 on Jalan Ungku Puan, on a piece of land with funds allocated by Sultan Sir Ibrahim to the Hindu community as a gift.
The temple was originally known as the Mariamman Temple and the word "Raja" was added to its name in honour of the Sultan and as an appreciation of his kindness.
The temple's edifice, or royal tower known as the Rajagopuram, is 23 metres high and is the state's tallest temple tower, while the deities are sculpted from a single granite stone.
The Sikh Gurdwara Sahib was built in 1921. It was learnt that the Sikhs settled in Johor Baru in the late 19th century.
Most of them were then serving with the Malaysian police force, while some served as the sultan's guards.
The land was allocated by the police commissioner and historians said that it was a swamp then, but the determined worshippers carried sand in gunny sacks on their heads and filled the land.
During the Japanese Occupancy between 1940 and 1945, the temple was abandoned as devotees fled for safety reasons.
However, with allocations from the state government and donations from various bodies, the Gurdwara Sahib Johor Baru underwent upgrading works in 1956.
The multi-level temple now has a prayer hall, a huge kitchen called Langar where food is served for free to devotees, its office, a quarters, rooms from visitors and a registrar of marriage, among others.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception (formerly Church of Our Lady of Lourdes) on Jalan Gereja here was built in 1927 on a piece of land donated by the then Johor Sultan Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Daing Ibrahim (1833-1895).
Sultan Sir Abu Bakar donated the land 1883 together with a large statue of Our Lady. The statue still stands in front of the church today.
The Roman Catholic Church with British colonial influences are among the oldest houses of worship in Johor Baru.
The Johor Baru Old Chinese Temple was built during the 19th century by the then head of Ngee Heng Company head led by Tan Hiok Nee and other Chinese community leaders.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Various houses of worship in the state’s capital city reflect its history of multiculturalism
THERE are numerous pre-war buildings in the state's capital city and each has an interesting history behind it.
Johor is made up of 10 districts which include Johor Baru, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kulaijaya, Muar, Kota Tinggi, Segamat, Pontian, Ledang and Mersing.
Johor residents often refer to the state's capital city Johor Baru, as "bandar".
Historians tell us that the Johor Sultanate ruled over Johor, which was then known as Jauhar, since the 14th century.
Johor originated from the Arabic word jauhar, which meant gem or jewel.
Johor Baru was then known as Tanjung Puteri, or the Princess's Cape.
Johor Baru survived and succeeded even during the British colonialism in 1914 and the Japanese occupation in 1942.
Johor is also known for its people who are multicultural, with different beliefs, and religions, but work as a unit, otherwise known as Bangsa Johor.
Evidence of this unity is the houses of worship in the capital city.
One of the most unique and beautiful houses of worship is the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, which was constructed between 1892 and 1900.
The mosque in Jalan Skudai here is magnificent and is still in operation today.
The mosque sits on top of a hill, once known as Bukit Redan, for the Redan trees that dominated the hill.
Redan or nephelium glabrum is from the Sapindaceae family. The tree bears fruit that is similar to rambutan and pulasan but is much smaller in size.
The Abu Bakar Mosque overlooking the Straits of Johor is named after the father of Sultan Sir Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar, who ordered the construction of the mosque.
For the Chinese community, there is the Old Chinese Temple, on Jalan Trus, that was built in the 19th century.
The temple is believed to be more than 130 years old, including its bronze bell, joss stick pot and wooden tablet.
There are five remaining deities in the temple that are worshipped by the Chinese of the Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Hainan descents.
The Arulmigu Rajamariamman Temple was built in 1911 on Jalan Ungku Puan, on a piece of land with funds allocated by Sultan Sir Ibrahim to the Hindu community as a gift.
The temple was originally known as the Mariamman Temple and the word "Raja" was added to its name in honour of the Sultan and as an appreciation of his kindness.
The temple's edifice, or royal tower known as the Rajagopuram, is 23 metres high and is the state's tallest temple tower, while the deities are sculpted from a single granite stone.
The Sikh Gurdwara Sahib was built in 1921. It was learnt that the Sikhs settled in Johor Baru in the late 19th century.
Most of them were then serving with the Malaysian police force, while some served as the sultan's guards.
The land was allocated by the police commissioner and historians said that it was a swamp then, but the determined worshippers carried sand in gunny sacks on their heads and filled the land.
During the Japanese Occupancy between 1940 and 1945, the temple was abandoned as devotees fled for safety reasons.
However, with allocations from the state government and donations from various bodies, the Gurdwara Sahib Johor Baru underwent upgrading works in 1956.
The multi-level temple now has a prayer hall, a huge kitchen called Langar where food is served for free to devotees, its office, a quarters, rooms from visitors and a registrar of marriage, among others.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception (formerly Church of Our Lady of Lourdes) on Jalan Gereja here was built in 1927 on a piece of land donated by the then Johor Sultan Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Daing Ibrahim (1833-1895).
Sultan Sir Abu Bakar donated the land 1883 together with a large statue of Our Lady. The statue still stands in front of the church today.
The Roman Catholic Church with British colonial influences are among the oldest houses of worship in Johor Baru.
The Johor Baru Old Chinese Temple was built during the 19th century by the then head of Ngee Heng Company head led by Tan Hiok Nee and other Chinese community leaders.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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