THE MELAKA BRIDE/S

Today is the wedding reception for Kasinah's three girls. Imagine 3 children all wed on the same day! Since I can't attend it today, I went last night with my group, the Islamic Women's Institution to perform The Hadrah (sort of group-singing Islamic songs and songs related to the special occasion). Anyway, what I want to share here is the fascinating traditional bridal costumes worn by the girls. Here is a peep - but I'll continue with the story later. Got to rush out now . . . to the Auditorium to prepare the hall for a talk this afternoon.

Aren't they gorgeous!

Now to continue from where I left. Oh yes, I LOVE the head-gear. This was the fashion half a decade ago. I remember one bride almost fainted after an hour or so after carrying the heavy head-gear. And I'm surprised the above brides agreed! Tradition I suppose.

You see, in the first place, one has to have reasonably long hair to be pulled tight and a long 'pin-cushion' -like thing inserted in the folds of the hair. Look at picture below :

Sorry couldn't get a closer picture. After the hair is tightly coiffeured, every strand pulled from the forhead and the nape, then the head-gear (sanggul lintang) is carefully placed on the head and more pins and more pins pushed to the hair to secure the head-gear.

How it looks from behind. Fresh scented 'bunga melor' stringed covering the back.

Bride Izzalliya having the last minute touches on her face while sis Izarydah having a sip at the back.

Here's Izarydah looking ever so pretty like her Mom!

The youngest of the sisters, Izzalliya, looks so sweet! Lucky groom!

The three of them again - Izarydah (No.2) , Izzalliya (No.3) and Izarenah (No.1)

All 6 of them on the special dias. Am I seeing double, treble?

Here's wishing all of you "Selamat Pengantin Baru" and May you all be blessed living in peace and harmony.

PS. I was told the eldest girl fainted after the ceremony. No wonder!

HAPPINESS IS .....

Happiness is celebrating your birth month with your sister . .

Happy birthday to Nek Lang & Tok Shau

and here they are, grinning from ear to ear.

Thank you Nek Lang for the sumptious dinner!

ONCE UPON A LONG TIME

Gong, gong, gong . . . .

Once upon a time when I was young, this vehicle which we called 'kereta lembu' (cow cart) would lumber through the narrow streets of old Melaka on a very special day. It was the last Wednesday of Safar, the second month of the Muslim calendar. The cart would be decorated with colourful curtains, paper flowers and crepe paper. The cow was 'guided' through the streets by the 'driver' sitting in the cart just behind the animal. In his hands were the reins and a long, thin stick. Other passengers in the cart were women, all dressed-up, and maybe some other members of the family. Sometimes we could see a convoy of such carts passing before our shop. As they lumbered on, we could hear the melodious, rhythmic beat of the 'gong' accompanying the women singing. We would run excitedly to see the procession as they passed by.

Where were they going on that special day? You see these carts were from surrounding villages on their way to the beach at Tanjong Kling, about 20 km or so from town for a once-a-year Mandi Safar (mandi = bathe) festival. It was then believed among the Malays that the month of Safar was a month of bad luck. So each time on the last Wednesday of the month, they would travel to Tanjong Kling to camp and dip themselves in the sea to wash off the bad luck. Besides them, many visitors from far and near would be there too to share the fun.

It was interesting to see all the carts arranged in a huge circle, the owners sharing food pot-luck style. The scene reminded me something similar to the gypsies in old Europe. The feast would start after noon lasting through the night till the next day! And at night, things came to life! By the way, the gentle cows would be tied near some coconut trees being well-fed with sacks and sacks of dried grass after their hard work. I suppose the cows had a pow-wow too among them! After dipping and bathing in the sea in the afternoon, it was time for some merry-making. Then the musical instruments would appear - the violins and the gong. Gong, gong, gong . . .There was singing and dancing the joget lambak Malacca style - only among the ladies mind you. It was all prim and proper like. The famous Dondang Sayang and Serampang Laut would continue till the wee hours of the night. The singers tried to out-do one another with their witty lyrics. Of course then I was too naive to undertand! The next day, they would pack their belongings and the cow carts would journey home slowly to their villages. This time there was no music accompaniment.

This culture or belief that Safar was a bad luck month is against Islam. All months are the same, there is no bad month in Islam. The practice was more akin to the Hindus, like in India where the Hindu believers dip themselves in the Ganges to wash-off any bad luck. Hinduism came to the Malay Peninsula some 500 years ago before Islam did. So it was not surprising that the locals adapted some of the customs even till today. The Malaysian government had banned the practice of Mandi Safar in the late 60's, saying that it was against Islamic practices. Hence we don't see the colourful 'kereta lembu' on the streets anymore. But you can see them at tourists spots at the edge of town like the one in the picture above.

However, I'm glad I had the chance to observe this 'lost' culture and share it here with you.