The Chitty, also known as the Indian Peranakan, have a long history in Malacca, tracing back to the spice era.

Their ancestors come from Kalinga, which is the Colomandel Coast region of India. Back in the day, Kalingan traders stopped by in Malacca on their way to Indonesia to weather the monsoon season, but instead, ended up settling down and starting businesses.

Marriages between the traders and locals resulted in the emergence of an all-new community – one which is a fusion of the Hindu religion and Malay culture.

The hallmark of the the Chitty is that they are Indians who have adapted Malay cultures in the aspects of language, attire and food. For example, the Chitty speak Bahasa Malaysia instead of Tamil or other Indian dialect, while the women wear baju kebaya instead of the saree for special occasions.

They cook and eat traditional Malay cuisines such as lauk pinang, nasi lemak and ulam-ulaman, but due to their religious beliefs they do not consume beef or pork.

Chitty Living Gallery chairman K. Nadarajan showing Chittys traditional wedding garments.

Of the nine Hindu temples in Malacca owned by the Chitty community, three of them are located in the Chitty Village in Gajah Berang. The oldest temple is the Angalaa Parameswari Kovil, also referred to as the Kuil Kolam Besar (named after the well it was built over).

Built in 1888 during the Dutch era, the iconic value of this temple is that the deities are cone-shaped, which is very different from the traditional humanoid form.

The prayers held in the temple are strictly based on Hindu teachings and headed by a priest, known as a Pandaram who is brought over from India.

When a Chitty marries, instead of the saree and dhoti, Chitty brides and grooms don baju kebaya and baju cekak respectively. They also wear beaded shoes which is an influence of the Baba Nyonya culture. Garlands and the keris are also part of the wedding costume.

After the wedding, the newlyweds walk around the Bo-tree which is regarded as the “witness of their wedding”.

The wide array of practices and customs that the Chittys upholds in their daily life exemplifies the beautiful spectrums of the Malaysian history.

The small Chitty community in Malacca is the paragon of the vibrant part of the history.