A Documentation of <i>Mah Meri</i> Indigenous Ceremonial Attire and Ancestral Day Event Stages

Abstract

Cultural sustainability activities are seen as strategies for ensuring the sustainability of culture and beliefs among indigenous tribes. Yet, there are a few challenges encountered by the Mah Meri tribe, especially in preserving their culture. The gap of discussion is in elaborating on the attire and the Mah Meri involvement throughout the ancestral event festival. Without such documentation, this heritage treasure may disappear and be lost in modernisation. The present case study was located at the (i) Judah Village, Carey Island (ii) Hari Moyang Laut cultural event located at Judah Village, Carey Island, about 77 km away from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews and observation were used to gather data before, during, and after the eventful possession of the ancestral day. Findings suggest that Hari Moyang or ancestral day involves several important stages, the initial stage, the planning stage, the event, and the event closure. Secondly, such intricacy of Nipah leaves woven into dresses has intimate meaning to the wearer. This practice has created the uniqueness of the tribe that differentiates it from other tribes. Thirdly, the staging of this heritage event is not without challenges. Among the challenges are time constraints and financial requirements. This documentation shall serve as a vital heritage preservation suitable for enduring such a present modernisation wave.