KUALA TERENGGANU - The tradition of ringing the ‘genta’ (bell) throughout the month of Ramadan on Bukit Puteri here, which indicates that the time for iftar and imsak is approaching, has been kept alive despite recent advancements in technology.
Terengganu State Museum Board assistant museum officer Saifol Nahrain Hashim said the tradition dating back to 1908 makes Terengganu unique.
"Now there are fireworks on Bukit Panorama which mark the time to break fast during Ramadan, but this bell is a Terengganu tradition that cannot be forgotten," he said.
The bell was made during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III in 1908 by copper craftsman Wan Ali Wan Awang with the assistance of other craftsmen from Kampung Tanjung and Kampung Paya near Istana Maziah here.
Made from yellow copper, measuring approximately 228 centimetres in circumference, 70 cm in height, and weighing 175 kilogrammes, the bell was used to alert the people in case of any mishap or disaster such as an enemy invasion.
Now, Saifol Nahrain said it is only used during Ramadan, struck three times a day, namely seven strikes 30 minutes before iftar, 36 strikes at 1 am for ‘sahur’ (pre-dawn meal), and four strikes half an hour before imsak (start of fast).
The task of ringing the giant bell is now carried out by Muizzuddin Mansor, 25, and his cousin Muhammad Hamidi Aminuddin, 30, the third generation after Muizzuddin's father, Mansor Awang, 74.
According to Muizzuddin, his father as the second generation has been carrying out this task since the 1960s after inheriting it from his uncle (Muizzuddin's granduncle) when he was 20 years old.
"I started ringing the bell when I was 16 years old. My father passed it down to me and Muhammad Hamidi when he became frail. This bell is located at the peak of Bukit Puteri, which has 90 steps that we have to climb every day.
"We take turns to carry out the duty. The sound of this bell can be heard about two kilometres from Bukit Puteri," said the lorry driver. - BERNAMA