Kaul festival
Kaul
(or Pesta Kaul) is the Melanau annual "cleansing" when traditionally,
uninvited spirits and other bad influences were escorted out of the
village by a flotilla of boats, and ceremonial offerings of food,
cigarettes and betel nut were set on the Seraheng (decorated pole) at
the river mouth..
The Beginning of Kaul
Originating from the animistic beliefs traditionally held by the Melanaus, the Pesta Kaul is held annually in Bulan Pengejin (The month of the Spirits)[2] of the Melanau Calendar,
which is usually in March or early April, as a purification and thanks
giving to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forests and farm. It
coincides with the end of the Northeast monsoon, once a time of hardship
when the sea was too rough to fish and the villages often suffered from
flooding. Traditionally, Villages would be palei or taboo for days
before Kaul. No one was allowed to leave or enter, and people underwent
purification ceremonies during Kaul. The celebration of Kaul concluded
with a communal picnic at the river mouth, followed by a return to the
village and again three days of prescribed restrictions.
The Serahéng
The festival would start with offerings of traditional food in a
special offering basket or "serahéng" which would be placed on the beach
at a chosen site near the river mouth. If there were leftovers it would
also be left near the seraheng site.[3]
The Celebration of Kaul
The Father of the Kaul (Bapa Kaul) would sing them mantras to that
effect to start the Kaul(KAWUL). Then they would celebrate them in a
grand feast where all the people would bring with them food and drink to
eat at a huge picnic by the river mouth and the beaches. They would
build huge swings or 'tibou' for them to play with the spirits. They
would also send offerings in the form of 'seraheng', an arrangement
created with the leaves of the sago palm, the staple food of the
Melanau. They would play all sorts of games on the beach during the for
the whole day. They would leave whatever food that is left on the
beaches and the river mouth for the spirits to feast upon at the end of
the day when the festival is done for the day. It is taboo to bring the
food back as it is for them who have guarded them and provided for them
all their lives. otherwise, they would be cursed.[4]
The Spiritual Meaning of Kaul
Kaul - celebrated in the Melanau month of Pengejin to thank the Ipok
(spirits/guardians) for a bountiful year past and a prayer for a good
year ahead. The Melanaus belief is animistic and they believe that the
world is protected and guarded by the various spirits, such as Ipok Guun
(the guardian of the jungle), Ipok Talun (forest), Ipok Sungai
(rivers), Ipok Pangai (wind) and Ipok Daat (sea). During this time, they
would honour them for what they were given for the year and ask them
for their good will for the coming year. They would sing their praises
and thank them for the harvest given to them in the past and pray that
they would grant them protection and give them a bountiful harvest in
the year to come. In up-river Melanau towns such as Dalat and Medong,
there are also all kinds of water sports including traditional canoe
races with as many paddler as can fit into the boat and, in more modern
times in the richer towns, power boat races. All the while they are
accompanied by a larger boat containing a traditional gong orchestra.
Kaul as the Melanau New Year
Bulan Pengejin (The month of the Spirits) is the first month of the
Melanau Calendar ( Bulan Melanau).For many societies the month January
signifies a renewal of life. Hence the Spirit of celebration for the
regeneration while discarding the old and worn out. On the contrary, the
month January coincides with the eleventh month of melanau calendar
called Bulan Pemalei (The month of Taboo.) This Month is to remind the
tragic killing of a great shaman ( a bebayuh) in ancient times. Hence
all activities such as Marriage, fishing, planting or any activities of
livelihood are not allowed during this month. It is regarded as a month
of ill fortune. Therefore New Year’s Day on 1 January is actually
celebrated on the melanau month of ill fortune The Melanau however
celebrate their New Year on Bulan Pengejin (The month of the Spirits)
which coincides with the month of March. Kaul Festival is also
celebrated to welcome the New Year.
The Tibow
The Tibow, the death defying 20-foot high swing,here youths dive from
a high bamboo scaffolding and catch a swinging l rope as it reaches the
height of its arc. First one, then two and eventually eight young men
hanging in a clump from the giant swing as it soars above the beach.
Pesta Kaul is about more than giant swings, it's a colorful festival
with a flotilla of highly decorated boats,beach games and lots of
delicious Melanau food. Traditionally, during the monsoon, the river
mouths were closed.
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