Public Project
The Temuan tribe's Ancestor's Day
The Ancestor’s Day celebration, better known among the Orang Asli as Aik Muyang, is celebrated from December to January with different dates and different traditional ways depending on the tribe.
Most of the Temuan tribe, which is the fourth-largest tribe among the 18 Orang Asli groups in Peninsular Malaysia, live in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, and Pahang. They also practise many customs that are similar to the Malays.
In Selangor, there are several Temuan Orang Asli settlements that did not miss the opportunity to hold Ancestor’s Day ceremonies in Kampung Pulau Kempas, Kampung Busut Baru, and Kampung Ulu Kuang.
Each Temuan settlement has its own celebration date and traditions, which are usually closely associated with the elements near where the tribe lives. It usually begins with cleaning the burial site, feasting the ancestral spirit, and celebrating the next day.
According to the Tok Batin of Kampung Orang Asli Pulau Kempas, Rahman Pahat, each village has a different date to celebrate Ancestor Day to avoid duplication of activities.“This is to enable the residents of each village to visit each other when the day of the celebration arrives.
The traditions and customs that are carried out during the celebration are all passed down from generation to generation and we try to maintain them every year so that they are always remembered and followed by the next generation,” he said.
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