By: Zaki MS
SERI MANJUNG – The 2026 International Poetry and Folk Song Festival (PULARA 2026) brought together more than 2,000 university students and over 100 international students from 25 countries.
The festival served as a platform to introduce Malaysia’s unique heritage, traditions and culture to the international community.
The opening ceremony of PULARA 2026, held at Dataran MADANI Seri Manjung, was officiated by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.
This year’s festival introduced a different approach through the PULARA Masuk Kampung concept, bringing various arts, cultural and community activities directly to local communities.
One of the main highlights was the Titian Budaya (Bakti MADANI Mega) programme, which connected international students with local communities through a homestay initiative.
The programme was held in Kampung Baru and Kampung Telaga Nanas, giving participants the opportunity to experience local lifestyles and learn about traditional customs.
Through the Rewang Santai: Dapur Warisan activity, international students also had the opportunity to learn about the traditional rewang practice of communal food preparation and the unique culinary heritage of the Malay community.
The festival also featured the appointment of four PULARA Village Chiefs and the launch of the Bakti MADANI Mega Titian Budaya programme.
These initiatives allowed participants to experience community life firsthand while understanding the values of togetherness, cooperation and mutual assistance.
PULARA 2026 has demonstrated how culture can serve as a bridge connecting communities across differences in language, ethnicity and national borders.
The festival is also expected to nurture a generation of young people who can achieve success internationally without forgetting their cultural roots and national heritage.
The successful organisation of the festival was supported by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), higher education institutions, polytechnics, community colleges, the organisers, and the people of Manjung and surrounding areas.
