Before starting the feast of Kaul, a Serahang must be prepared. Serahang is a flat round offering basket raised on a 7 feet bamboo pole. It is made of bulok tedieng, semat, nypa leaves, daun iseng and daun tigoh. Serahang means " to offer" or "to surrender" and serves as offering basket for Ipok ( Spirits). The offerings are:
The Offerings : All Photos by Eduine Kusai
Bertih ( Rice pops)
Pulut Kunieng ( Yellow glutinous rice)
Penyaram ( Sweet snack made of rice flour)
Papit ( packed rice in woven nypa leaf pouch)
Rukok Kirai ( Cigarettes with Nypa Wrappers)
Belen ( Betel and areca nuts)
The Father of Kaul will start the ceremony. He sings prayer to all "Ipok" (Spirits) while holding a bowl of Beraih Kunieng ( Uncooked yellow Rice). The Prayer goes:
| Oi kelou Ipok Ipok Alud Ipok Daya Ipok Wab Ipok La-an Ipok Bau Ipok Dibak Ipok Jakak Ipok Pegak Ipok Tanak Ipok Sungai Ipok Li-éak Ipok Telouk Ipok Lidouk Ipok Jalan Ipok Takan Ipok Ipok Keang sigeang mata linga kelou Ipok Itoulah melou sou aneak Menibah kelou sama-sama Bak Keman Bak Pamen | O ye Ipok Ipok of the sea Ipok of the land Ipok of the west Ipok of the east Ipok in high above Ipok at down under Ipok of docks Ipok of river bed Ipok of the earth Ipok of the river Ipok of forest puddle Ipok of the Gulf Ipok of river rill Ipok of the road Ipok of places Ipok Ipok Open your eyes, Lend us your ears O Ipok Here we are your children Welcoming You for Festivity for Feasting |
Then the Father of Kaul would scatter the yellow uncooked rice towards the villagers. In the same time he would continue the Prayer:
| Melou menyabek diak gak kelou Ipok | Bless us O Ipok |
| Bak umur selamet sou aneak nou | Bless us with longevitiy |
| Menyabek rejeki murak gak melou aneak nou | Grant us, your children a bountiful life |
| Neh Muneh | in days to come |
| Inou ji wak meseang wak kureang nejaga | Protect us from hindrance and shortcoming |
| Wak jaet wéak | Deliver us from evil |
| Tuluong nou menyusuh jauk | Banish it far away |
| Kemanlah telou sama-sama Telou gitou lau itou | Let us feast together with you here today |
After that the Father of Kaul would ask permission from the A-Metahei ( Aristrocrats) to begin the feast. After the feast the Serahang is placed on a riverbank while the Bapa Kaul( Father of Kaul ) would sing mantras to invoke the spirits and pours water over the offerings. The Serahang will be placed on the right side of the river mouth or on a sacred place which is called "Mesin" in melanau.
Written by Learn Melanau
Learn Melanau by Nativeglot.com provides insider information about melanau unique cultures and language
Good job, keep it up on next Kaul's Festival.
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