The Wayang Kulit of
K e l a n t a n
The shadow puppet play in Kelantan is performed primirily as a form of
entertainment in the towns and villages, and for many people it is an evening's diversion
from the routine of daily life. In the past the regular wayang season began in February or
March when the monsoon rains stopped, and continued until September or October. During the
season, a wayang kulit performance was held on any night of the week except Thursday, the
eve of the Muslim sabbath. (In the 1990s there is no longer a specific wayang season, and
the frequency of performances is steadily decreasing in the villages). In the past it was
usual for an individual or a number of people in a given village to erect a hut-like stage
on which the shadow play is performed and invite a dalang to perform for a specific number
of night, The dalang himself would then obtain a performing licence from the local police
authorities for the performances on specific dates and in the given location. An admission
fee would be collected from the audience, and a fee paid to the dalang and his troupe for
eaach night's performance.
Occasionally the wayang kulit is staged in the context of an important ceremony know as
the berjamu (feasting of the spirits). This high ritual event in
the wayang world is performed only for a special accasion such as a wedding celebration, a
circumcision, the demolition of an old house, the intiation of a new panggung, or a
release from a vow. The three basic types of berjamu performances are know as the pelimau
(the ritual bathing of pupils), the pelepas niat (release from a vow), and the menyemah
(propitiation of spirits, for the adjustment of 'winds' or emotions). When a new wayang
kulit panggung was erected several yeaars ago on the grounds of the Kompleks Budaya Negara
(National Culture Complex) in Kuala Lumpur, the official opening and intiation of the
panggung took place with a menyemah ritual performed by Dalang Hamzah bin Awang Amat himself. A berjamu is always a very
costly event in terms of the preparation of foods and other material items and facilities,
as well as the emotional and spiritual effort on the part of the dalang and other
participants. Consequently, it is rarely performed.
[Wayang Kulit Gedek][Wayang Kulit Melayu][Wayang Kulit Jawa][Wayang Kulit Siam]
[Wayang Kulit In Malaysia [Wayang Kulit In
Kelantan][HOME]
[Songket][The State
Of Kelantan]
Source : Malaysian Shadow Play And Music : continuity of
an oral tradition, by Patricia Matusky.
Last up dated in 1st. April 1997