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 that 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.

There is also the cost of transportation to bring the boys to their ancestors’ graves to pay their respects. Some graves are located 50km away from the village, which is located in Temerloh, Pahang. The village houses around 102 families, with more than 500 people living there. 

Man, 55, whose grandson participated in the ceremony, said the fees varied, depending on the number of participants. 

“I have gone through this, my son did too, so it’s important for my grandson to experience this,” he told The Malaysian Insight, stressing the importance of preserving the tradition for generations. 

The ceremony started with prayers to their ancestors conducted by a Penghulu Balai, to seek their blessings and protection for the event to go smoothly. 

Then, all rituals were led by a person in charge, called ‘Bapak’. 

Most of the rituals, including the circumcision, were held at a host’s house, whose relative was also involved in the circumcision. 

Throughout the ceremony, the boys were given special treatments such as being hoisted on shoulders when circling their ancestors’ graves, sleeping and eating separately. 

In the evening, the women would cook together to serve hundreds of people who flocked the host’s wooden house. And as the night went on, the house was filled to the brim with family members, relatives and villagers, sitting elbow-to-elbow to accommodate the scarce spaces. 

The music goes on through the night with percussion instruments as the boys take part in a ritual dance led by silat masters.

“They have to dance like birds, they have to be close to the Guru Silat when they are dancing and the crowd goes wild to get the kids excited,” said Hamadan Akau, explaining the exuberant reaction every time each boy took to the dance floor.

On the morning of the second day, the boys were brought to a nearby stream, where they had to soak for about a few hours before being circumcised. Each boy also received a coconut shell filled with clay, to be used during the circumcision ceremony. 

Hamadan who is also a Grant and Outreach executive at Sols24/7, NGOHub, said out of the 18 Orang Asli tribes in peninsular Malaysia, only three tribes had the circumcision practice.

“But the other two tribes don’t have a ceremony like this, only Jahut has this kind of tradition.“ he said. 

He added that the new generation of Jahut should learn and continue the tradition, as it was a special identity of the community. 

“I’m of the Jahut tribe, I’m very proud to show to the people in Malaysia or the world that the Jahut tribe is unique, different from others, we have our own way of living life.

“I hope in 10 to 20 years this culture will still be alive, so that people can recognise the real identity of Jahut,” he said, suggesting that the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) has to make regular visits to know more about the uniqueness of each tribe. – June 3, 2017.