FOR the villagers of Kampung Medong in Dalat, a coastal district in central Sarawak, the Kaul Medong is more than just a festival. It is an integral part of their Melanau heritage and way of life.
The kaul festival is traditionally celebrated to offer thanksgiving for the previous year’s harvest and seek blessings for a good year to come. Different villages observe local variations in their rituals and celebration of the kaul.
At Kampung Medong, headman Bohari Datei said the kaul still follows old animist beliefs.
“Other kaul festivals are usually symbolic, but the Kaul Medong is a traditional kaul.
“This kaul belongs to our culture and way of life. It’s important to preserve the tradition so that it doesn’t die out, because it is part of our identity,” he said.
Bohari said the kaul used to be held in April before the start of the fishing season.
However, as times changed, more villagers moved elsewhere to work, returning during the year-end school holidays.
“So the timing of the kaul was moved to Jan 1 so that everyone could join in the celebration when they were back in the village,” he said, adding that the kaul in other places like Mukah is still celebrated in April.
According to bapa kaul (kaul priest) Abu Kamat, 82, the festival originated in the olden days when a villager named Sepok came across a sacred object known as belisieng in another longhouse that had been burnt down.
However, the room where the object was found was spared from destruction.
“Sepok was spending the night there before returning to Medong. He heard a voice from the belisieng saying that it no longer had an owner who would give it food.
“The belisieng offered to protect the village if the villagers would look after it and give it food. So he brought the belisieng back to Medong.
“Since then the kaul has been celebrated by presenting food offerings to seek protection for the village,” he said.
The kaul begins with the offering of food such as ketupat and eggs to the belisieng in its wooden hut at Kampung Medong, while yellow rice is scattered seven times on the ground.
Food offerings will also be placed in ceremonial baskets called seraheng, which are raised on bamboo poles decorated with colourful fabric pieces.
A lead boat carries the seraheng on the river, followed by a procession of boats. Two seraheng are placed upstream and another two downstream to seek protection and blessings for a bountiful year.
Villagers and visitors alike also share a communal feast during the kaul, enjoying local delicacies like ketupat and kuih penyaram.
Abu said several taboos must be observed during the kaul.
“The main one is to respect the lead boat carrying the seraheng. The rest of the boats cannot cross in front of it.
“Loud noises are prohibited and no animals can be slaughtered for three days,” he said.
Abu also said villagers can make their own offerings to the belisieng during the kaul to seek its help or blessings for their life situation.
One visitor who came to do this was Chung Sung Siong from the nearby village of Kampung Sungai Ud.
He prepared yellow glutinous rice, eggs, rolled cigarettes, kapur sirih (lime paste), betel nuts and kuih penyaram for the offering.
“This year I happened to be in the village during kaul time, so I decided to make this offering because I will be moving soon to Australia for work.
“My wish is that everything I do will go smoothly, along with good health and goodwill for the village,” he said.
Village headman Bohari said the kaul attracts many visitors who come to see how it is celebrated.
Nowadays, he added, various side activities are held for the younger generation, including boat racing, a karaoke competition, beauty pageant and lucky draws.
“It’s all part of adapting to the times,” he said.
Despite the changes, the Kaul Medong retains its traditional rituals, uniting the village community around its cultural heritage and identity.
