Ritual Practices: To Prevent Or Preserve?

NormanJB

The most common form of rituals appears in traditional performances. They may seem as a cultural inheritance, but with them come a great deed of ‘spirit’ for those who perform them. Ritualistic elements performed especially before a show are deemed important to “protect” the dancers, musicians and audience from any bad omen that might befall them.

Both locally originating from Kelantan, the ‘Makyung’ is a traditional dance form while the ‘Wayang Kulit’ is a famous shadow play puppeteer and are believed to have its ‘own spirit’ that may possess performers and audiences alike.

“An example of the dance’ ritual is during its opening ceremony which is called ‘buka panggung’ in Malay. The term refers to the opening of the 'body and soul' of the stage, and in the same time the entrance of the performers’ souls into a ‘supernatural’ world.


In comparison with the more mystical ‘Makyung’, the ‘Wayang Kulit’ seems more fun, and can sometimes be funny too with its storylines. Performances however have a ritual significance where the ‘Tok Dalang’ (Master Puppeteer and Storyteller) recites magical incantations and presents offerings to spirits. The most common stories told in famous shadow plays are those from the epic story of Ramayana.

Even with the beauty of such art forms in the country, its mystical nature becomes a put off to skeptics who completely turn away from traditional performances that are associated with superstitious practices.

Regardless the forms of ritual practice, living in a multicultural space demands respect as its most imperative ritual to gain any form of trust between people with different religion and beliefs. http://ow.ly/GMrbO