GEORGE TOWN, 29 Aug — The Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) Penang marked the 69th National Day with a unique community celebration that combined food, art, culture and environmental awareness.

Instead of conventional decorations, participants worked together to create a giant Jalur Gemilang using fresh vegetables, fruits and recycled materials.

The activity, inspired by traditional Indian rangoli art, saw participants use red chillies and white radishes to form the flag’s stripes, while yellow baby corn and bananas were arranged to create the crescent and star.

Upcycled blue egg cartons were used for the background, giving the artwork an eco-friendly touch.

The idea was initiated by TFA committee member Datuk P. Murugiah, who said using everyday food items helped make the celebration more meaningful and relatable.

The activity also brought together participants from different backgrounds, including sitar students, yoga members, friends and members of the local community.

Many came dressed in traditional attire, including Malay kebayas with kain songket and a Bidayuh outfit from Sarawak.

As participants sat together on the floor to complete the artwork, they exchanged stories about their cultures and backgrounds, while working towards a common goal.

Once the artwork was completed and photographs taken, the fresh produce was packed into paper bags and distributed to participants to take home.

The celebration reflected the spirit of Merdeka by bringing people from different cultural backgrounds together through creativity, food and community participation.

Datuk P. Murugiah, said the initiative also showed that National Day celebrations could be meaningful without excessive waste, with simple ideas helping to promote unity and environmental responsibility.