MUKAH: The Kaul Serahang Kakan tradition, a unique ritual ceremony of the Melanau community is celebrated with great enthusiasm here.
Over 2,000 people witnessed the celebration which was steeped in tradition at the Kaul Festival ground here on Saturday.
According to Member of Parliament for Mukah, Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, in addition to maintaining the traditions of the Melanau community, the ritual of old was also a meeting point for multi-racial and religious communities in the state who wished to witness the uniqueness of the ceremony.
‘Kaul Kakan is a community gathering, it’s an old tradition, we’ve been doing it since the beginning, possibly even before the existence of other religions and other community associations came here,” she told the media at the event.
Hanifah, who is also Deputy Minister of Economy, pledged her support to ensure customs in the community are preserved and implemented harmoniously.
Meanwhile, Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine said, the tradition needs to be preserved to dignify and highlight the wealth of culture and customs of the community.
“Without efforts like this, it may become extinct and disappear,” he said.
Kaul activities used to be a thanksgiving celebration by the Melanau people to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forest and fields known as Ipok, especially during the monsoon season when fish are hard to get and farmers cannot go down to the field or forest.
According to local belief, fishermen can catch fish again, while farmers and gardeners can go down to the fields and forests without the interruption of bad weather after the Kaul activities.
Kaul is also held to protect and save the world from diseases that threaten the lives of the people.
In conjunction with Kaul Kakan Serahang, a decorated boat competition was also held. The competition was won by Sapan Puloh’s decorated boat followed by KRT Tellian Tengah Zone 1 and 2, JKKK Tellian Traditions in third place while seven other boats won consolations namely Yusapet Petanak, JKKK Tellian Ulu, JKKK Tellian Tengah, Lamin Dana, Mukah Division Resident Office and Mukah District Office, Mukah Melanau Association and UiTM and UNIMAS.
Present were Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi, Bapak Kaul Mukah Penghulu Bonaventure Juana Lupiah, Temenggong Hendi Suhai, Pemanca Jali Kawi, community leaders and tribal leaders.
