In the final days of December last year, Orang Asli from the Temuan tribe performed rituals and prayers at the burial site of their ancestors to honour the “spirits” that have been safeguarding the people and gave a good life to the current generation.
The Ancestor’s Day celebration, better known among the Orang Asli as Aik Muyang, is celebrated from December to January with different dates and different traditional ways depending on the tribe.
Most of the Temuan tribe, which is the fourth-largest tribe among the 18 Orang Asli groups in Peninsular Malaysia, live in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, and Pahang. They also practise many customs that are similar to the Malays.
In Selangor, there are several Temuan Orang Asli settlements that did not miss the opportunity to hold Ancestor’s Day ceremonies in Kampung Pulau Kempas, Kampung Busut Baru, and Kampung Ulu Kuang.
Each Temuan settlement has its own celebration date and traditions, which are usually closely associated with the elements near where the tribe lives. It usually begins with cleaning the burial site, feasting the ancestral spirit, and celebrating the next day.
Smoke covers the burial site as the tribe burns dried leaves to clear the area of bushes at Kampung Ulu Kuang in Rawang. The event started in the morning and took more than two hours to complete.
Men building altars to present offerings while the women and children clean the graves. More than 30,000 Temuan tribes live in Peninsular Malaysia, most of the practising animism.
A Temuan man communicates to his ancestral spirit to come and taste the offerings. He also prayed to the ancestors for safety and prosperity in the coming new year.
Orang Asli burning joss sticks and papers similar to ‘hell money’ from Chinese beliefs as offerings to their forefathers. The indigenous people, especially in Selangor, have accepted aspects from other cultures in their customs.
Besides food and drinks, cigarettes and medicines are also common items offered on the altar. Offerings served are what their ancestors loved when they were still alive.
Setting off firecrackers marks the completion of the ancestor commemoration ceremony. In Kampung Pular Kemas, a drum will also be hit seven times by the last person to leave the burial grounds so that the ancestral spirits do not follow them to the living world.
Asih Anak Jehat, a mediator in Kampung Busut Baru, Banting, prays to Panglima Galang and Angkop. He is the only one trained to summon and be possessed by the guardian spirit of the tribe on Ancestor’s Day.
Indigenous artist and activist Shaq Koyok performs ‘mandi bedak’ to cleanse himself of the old year’s bad luck. Once done, Shaq should walk forward without looking back as a sign of moving on.
Temuan women weave ‘tali dendan’ and ‘tali angin’ made from nipa palm tree leaves. The items function as guides for ancestors to come down during the ritual. 'Tali dendan' is also hung on the door of the house as a sign that the house is receiving guests on their festival day.
The Orang Asli cook vegetarian food for the occasion, both for eating and as offerings to the ancestral spirits. The tribe fast from meat for the celebration.
Temuan girls in traditional attire after performing the Sewang dance on the second day of Ancestor’s Day. On the second day, they celebrate with a dance party, karaoke, and a feast to welcome the arrival of the new year.
Relatives and neighbors attend an open house, almost the entire village will have canopies for feasting. This sight is as familiar as the Aidilfitri celebration in Malaysia. Similar food such as ketupat, lemang, and rendang are served as these are traditional cuisines of the tribe.
According to the Tok Batin of Kampung Orang Asli Pulau Kempas, Rahman Pahat, each village has a different date to celebrate Ancestor Day to avoid duplication of activities.
“This is to enable the residents of each village to visit each other when the day of the celebration arrives. The traditions and customs that are carried out during the celebration are all passed down from generation to generation and we try to maintain them every year so that they are always remembered and followed by the next generation,” he said.
