Running from Sept 1-7, the inaugural event will welcome participants from Turkey as well as Asean countries including Laos, Singapore and Indonesia.

The Royal Pahang Weave Foundation (Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja) is under the patronage of Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, and the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

The festival will feature a wide range of activities such as craft workshops, interactive demonstrations, exhibitions, heritage food displays, traditional dances, as well as the Tunku Azizah Cup – Royal Pahang Weave Competition.

The Sultan of Pahang is expected to officiate the launch of the festival at the Pekan Maritime Museum at 8.30pm on Aug 31, which will also feature the launch of the Tunku Azizah Heritage Foundation and the presentation of the Tunku Azizah Cup Awards.

Adding colour to the event will be the “Pameran Lukisan Jiwa” (Soulful Art Exhibition) by acclaimed singer M Nasir.

Notably, Tunku Azizah herself is scheduled to conduct a cooking demonstration.

Other highlights include an East Coast Gastronomy and Culinary Heritage Exhibition, a tiffin (stacked food containers) expo, and a painting exhibition.

The crafts of Orang Asli communities – including Jahut wood carving, Semelai sash weaving, rattan basket making and mat weaving – will also be on display.

Visitors will further be entertained with traditional dikir Pahang, gendang silat Pahang, and Usari Pinang Dara performances, as well as cultural shows from Sarawak.

The Pahang Heritage Festival is supported by the Pahang Museum and the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation.