MUKAH: Bapa Kaul (father of the Kaul) normally prepares for the Melanau annual cleaning ceremony as early as 5am before boarding a boat down the Tellian River, accompanied by the villagers and traditional Melanau music performances along the way.
The aim is to bring “Serahang”(flat round offering basket raised on a 7 feet bamboo pole) for “Ipok” (spirits) in the hopes that all goes well at sea and in the forest.
That is the annual routine whenever a traditional Melanau community ceremony, namely Kaul Tugek, is held in Mukah.
Kaul Mukah was not held this year, 13 months after the first Covid-19 case was detected in Malaysia, to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Instead, only an important ritual, “Mengakan Kala” (sending of offerings to the spirits) was carried out in compliance with the SOPs; only a few important individuals were permitted to attend the ritual which was conducted in private recently.
Sarawak’s media had the chance to observe the ritual first-hand.
Bapa Kaul Edmund Salman Tuna, 61, said this year, they also asked the spirits for protection against Covid-19.
To help him prepare for the ritual was his friend Joohnny Anthony, 35.
Edmund stressed that Melanau traditions must be preserved, but that due to Covid-19 circumstances, not everyone was able to do so.
“We pray that “Ipok” will keep us safe from the Covid-19 virus and to return the world to normal.”
In conjunction with “Mengakan Kala”, villagers had simple meals in front of their houses while adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
According to Edmund, only he, the village head and the boat driver took the “Serahang” down the Tellian River to the beach as early as 7am this year.
No music or gongs were played. No Serahang was set up in the boat and only the boat engine could be heard.
Green bean porridge, turmeric rice, “penyaram” (traditional cakes) and other dishes were among the food offerings in the “Serahang”.
Edmund then brought the “Serahang” from the boat to the “Kala Serahang Kakan” site for the “Mengakan Kala” ritual.
After that, he went to a nearby beach area to say prayers and sprinkle yellow rice.
A simple feast concluded the ritual.
Edmund hopes next year’s Kaul Mukah celebration will be more vibrant.
“I hope the Kaul tradition and other Melanau traditions will be passed on to our children and grandchildren,” he said.
“We can get rid of all diseases with this ceremony while fishermen can haul in lucrative catches,” he explained.
