Lying on a woven mengkuang mat in their sarongs, 10 boys of the Jahut community waited anxiously last weekend for the circumcision ceremony to start, marking their first steps into adulthood.
The mass circumcision was the highlight of “Kerjak-Mengerjak”, a two-day event full of rituals that brings the community of Kampung Paya Mengkuang together.
The boys, aged from 10 to 13, were dressed and treated like royals, with makeup and in complete traditional attire; Baju Melayu with Tanjak (traditional Malay headgear), ornamental sash draped over the shoulders and the keris or dagger tucked behind the waist.
Each family who chose to be part of the biggest ceremony for the Jahut community had to pay around RM1,600, to cover various ritual’s expenses such as making sacrificial offerings of chickens, ritual dances where a non-stop music with traditional percussion instruments played throughout the night and transportation to bring the boys to their ancestors’ graves to pay their respects. – June 3, 2017.
A boy from the Jahut tribe with his face covered with mud stains looks on after a morning bath at a village before being circumcised in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Villagers from the Jahut tribe gather during the opening ceremony of "Kerjak-Mengerjak" at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. Kerjak-Mengerjak, the biggest ceremony for the Jahut community with various of rituals was held for two-day to brings the villagers together with the mass circumcision the highlight of event. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.A slaughtered chicken is thrown as part of the sacrificial ritual during the "Kerjak-Mengerjak" ceremony at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. As the mass circumcision is the highlight of the event, each boy who participates is required to partake in various rituals, such as making sacrificial offerings of chickens during the opening ceremony. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.A dead chicken on the ground after being sacrificed during the opening ceremony at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.A boy from the Jahut tribe has his makeup applied before visiting their ancestors' graves to pay respects at a village in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Boys from the Jahut tribe dressed in traditional attire gather before visiting their ancestors' graves to pay respects at a village in Temerloh, Pahang. The boys, aged from 10 to 13, were dressed and treated like royals, with makeup and in complete traditional attire throughout the ceremony. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Families from the Jahut tribe make their way to their ancestors' graves to pay respect as part of a ritual at a village in Jerantut, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Families from the Jahut tribe make their way after paying respects at their ancestors' graves at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Villagers from the Jahut tribe prepare food in the kitchen of a wooden house before the ritual dance at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. Each family that chose to be part of the biggest ceremony for the Jahut community had to pay around RM1,600, to cover various ritual expenses such as venue preparation, foods, transportation and others. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.A boy from the Jahut tribe dances with a Guru Silat (Silat Master) as the crowd cheers in the background during the ritual dance at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. Music with traditional percussion instruments played throughout the night, starting with the boys partaking in a ritual dance, led by silat masters. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.A boy from the Jahut tribe shows his amulet made from thread with a ring and turmeric, at a village in Temerloh, Pahang. The necklace, given by Tok Mudim (a person who performs traditional circumcisions) is meant to protect the boys during the circumcision ceremony. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Boys from the Jahut tribe take a dip in the stream near their village in Temerloh, Pahang. In the morning of the second day, the boys were brought to the stream where they had to soak for a few hours before being circumcised. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Boys from the Jahut tribe take a dip in the stream near their village before being circumcised, in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Boys from the Jahut tribe ride on the back of a pickup truck after their morning bath before being circumcised at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Boys from the Jahut tribe wearing sarongs lay on the mat as they wait to be circumcised at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. Out of the 18 Orang Asli (indigenous people) tribes in peninsular Malaysia, only three tribes have the circumcision practice. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.
Boys from the Jahut tribe wearing sarongs waiting to be circumcised at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Tok Mudim (those who perform traditional circumcision) inspect the boys during the circumcision ceremony at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. Despite modern technology which is leass painful like Tara-Klamp and laser, they prefer traditional techniques as it identifies with the Jahut community. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.Boys from the Jahut tribe resting after being circumcised at Kampung Paya Mengkuang in Temerloh, Pahang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 3, 2017.
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