Johor prohibits Muslims from participating in rituals of other faiths
JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ) today issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from attending and participating in religious rituals of other faiths in the state. State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman, Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, said that the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has consented to the fatwa, which came […]
A conversation on Melanau rites and rituals
KUCHING: ‘The Realm Between: A Conversation About the Healing Ritual and Unique Culture of the Melanau’ made for riveting discourse among 60 locals, foreigners and history buffs here on Today (Aug 21). Organised by the Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS), the programme was held at Borneo Cultures Museum. Speakers at the event dwelled on the realm […]
Understanding rituals of the Ghost Festival
By Natasha Jee & Alexandra Lorna It’s not just all about darkness, ghosts and death ONE of the important Buddhist and Taoist traditional festivals observed in most of the Asian countries is the Ulambana Festival. The festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar, is one of the […]
Get slaughter exemptions for Aidiladha ritual
KUCHING: Slaughtering of animals on religious occasions is allowed provided exemption of licence or permit is obtained beforehand in the state. In giving the reminder, Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said many mosques, surau and villagers are expected to perform the sacrificing ritual in conjunction with Hari […]
The salako community’s nyemah ritual
The ancestors’ rituals and taboos have gradually diverged from the norms of indigenous peoples’ daily lives in the state, and there are few sources of documentation on these practises for the present generation’s knowledge and reference. Awareness for the preservation of the relics of the old generation should be maintained, and communities that still conduct […]
Jars’ Graded Values And Related Rituals
People think that I must be a very strange person. This is not correct. I have the heart of a small boy. It is in a glass jar on my desk. – Stephen King, American author Many decades ago Gawai Tajau, a festival to honour Iban precious and highly priced jars, was a much-awaited momentous […]
Another quiet Gawai for Maria
KUCHING: The Ibans at Kampung Tabuan Dayak here and those nearby used to gather for the ‘tiang pengingat’ (memorial pole) ritual on Gawai Dayak Eve. But since many of them have embraced Christianity, they no longer practise the ritual. But the memorial pole still stands tall today. It is located at Lorong 16 in the […]
Follow SOP, avoid ‘Ibadah’ cluster
AIDILADHA KUALA NERUS: Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri advised Muslims in the country to adhere to the prescribed standard operating procedure (SOP) to curb the spread of Covid-19 when celebrating Aidiladha to prevent the emergence of a “Ibadah” cluster. He said the government did not want […]
Miring allowed during Gawai
KUCHING: Gawai rituals such as miring are allowed during the festival, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. However, he reiterated that house-to-house or longhouse-to-longhouse visiting during Gawai would not be permitted, reminding that the festival could be celebrated one day only. “Gawai rituals like miring and others are allowed. So, it is […]
