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.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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