Sunday, June 24, 2012

Entreating Coconut Bossom: Ulek Mayang



Some of the local folks believe that if you sing the Ulek Mayang lyric at seaside after dark, you will see sea spirits dancing accompanying your singing. If you got lucky, then you will be possessed by the spirits and fall into trance. You are warned. This is a type of traditional dance similar to the Kuda Kepang.



Ulek Mayang is actually a Malay traditional dance from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia. It is a ritualistic dance performed to appease or invoke the spirits of the sea and is always accompanied by a unique song also called Ulek Mayang. A traditional orchestra comprising drums, gong, violin and accordion accompanies the dance.



The Ulek Mayang is said to have its origin in an ancient tale about a sea-princess who fell in love with a fisherman. The princess enchanted the fisherman so that his body remained unconscious while she trapped his spirit. His friends entreated a bomoh (shaman) to heal him. When the bomoh conducted the healing ritual to bring the fisherman's soul back,the princess appeared and responded by calling on five of her sisters to her aid. The battle between the bomoh and the 6 princesses continued until the seventh and the eldest princess appeared and put an end to it.



"I know your origins” says the eldest princess and she commands everyone, "Let those from the sea to return to the sea, and those from the land to return to the land".



The grateful bomoh and the fisherman’s friends present the princess with coloured rice as an offering to the spirits of the sea. This practice, along with the Ulek Mayang dance, continued until the Islamic revival movement of recent decades.



Lyrics



The Ulek Mayang song which accompanies the dance narrates the story which unfolds. Some Malaysians claim that the song is haunted because it gives chills, especially when performed at sunset by the beach. However,the song remains popular and there are several contemporary interpretations of the song. The Malaysian rock diva, Ella once sung the song in a rock version, while the thrash metal band, Cromok produced several instrumental versions of the song.





Malay



 Ulek mayang ku ulek

 Ulek dengan jala jemala

 Ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan tuannya puteri

 Ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan jala jemala

 Ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan puterinya dua



 Puteri dua berbaju serong

 Puteri dua bersanggol sendeng

 Puteri dua bersubang gading

 Puteri dua berselendang kuning

 Umbok mayang diumbok

 Umbok dengan jala jemala

 Nok ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan puterinya empat



 Puteri empat berbaju serong

 Puteri empat bersanggol sendeng

 Puteri empat bersubang gading

 Puteri empat berselendang kuning

 Umbok mayang diumbok

 Umbok dengan jala jemala

 Nok ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan puterinya enam



 Puteri enam berbaju serong

 Puteri enam bersanggol sendeng

 Puteri enam bersubang gading

 Puteri enam berselendang kuning

 Umbok mayang diumbok

 Umbok dengan jala jemala

 Nok ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan puterinya tujuh



 Puteri tujuh berbaju serong

 Puteri tujuh bersanggol sendeng

 Puteri tujuh bersubang gading

 Puteri tujuh berselendang kuning

 Umbok mayang diumbok

 Umbok dengan jala jemala

 Nok ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan tuannya puteri



 Tuan puteri berbaju serong

 Tuan puteri bersanggol sendeng

 Tuan puteri bersubang gading

 Tuan puteri berselendang kuning

 Umbok mayang diumbok

 Umbok dengan jala jemala

 Nok ulek mayang diulek

 Ulek dengan tuannya puteri



 Ku tahu asal usul mu

 Yang laut balik ke laut

 Yang darat balik ke darat

 Nasi berwarna hamba sembahkan

 Umbok mayang ku umbok

 Umbok dengan jala jemala

 Pulih mayang ku pulih

 Pulih balik sedia kala





Literal English translation



 I entreat the Mayang

 Entreat with shining nets

 Entreat the Mayang

 Singing with her highness the princess

 Entreat the Mayang

 Entreat it with shining nets

 Entreat for the Mayang

 Singing together with the second princess



 Second princess wears a slanted blouse

 Second princess with a slanted hair knot

 Second princess wears ivory earrings

 Second princess has a yellow scarf

 Persuading the Mayang

 Persuade it with shining nets

 Entreating the Mayang

 Singing with the fourth princess



 Fourth princess wears a slanted blouse

 Fourth princess with a slanted hairknot

 Fourth princess wears ivory earrings

 Fourth princess has a yellow scarf on

 Persuading the Mayang

 Persuade it with shining nets

 Entreating the Mayang

 Singing with the sixth princess



Sixth princess wears a slanted blouse

 Sixth princess with a slanted hairknot

 Sixth princess wears ivory earrings

 Sixth princess has a yellow scarf

 Persuading the Mayang

 Persuade it with shining nets

 Entreating the Mayang

 Singing with the seventh princess



 Seventh princess wears a slanted blouse

 Seventh princess with the slanted hairknot

 Seventh princess wears ivory earrings

 Seventh princess has a yellow scarf

 Persuading the Mayang

 Persuade it with shining nets

 Entreating the Mayang

 Singing with her highness the princess



 Her highness the princess wears a slanted blouse

 Her highness the princess with a slanted hairknot

 Her highness the princess wears ivory earrings

 Her highness the princess has a yellow scarf

 Persuading the Mayang

 Persuade it with nets

 Entreating the Mayang

 Singing with her highness the princess



 I know your origins

 Let those from the sea to return to the sea

 Let those from the land to return to the land

 I present the coloured rice

 I persuade the Mayang

 Persuade it with shining nets

 I heal with Mayang

 Bringing back to health



If you want more information, do pay a visit to one of the beautiful fishing village in Trengganu and enquire the most senior villager there. I am sure you will enjoy the new experience J.


Note: Mayang is a coconut-palm blossom used to chase away spirits.





From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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