Ulek mayang

Ulek Mayang is a pre-Islamic traditional Malay dance which originated from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia. It is a type of worshipping dance in which a unique song is sung accompanied with a Malay orchestra comprising drums, gong, violin and accordian .

Origin

A dancer performing the Ulek Mayang dance.

There are many versions of Ulek Mayang legend, according to one of them, the dance is originated from an ancient ritual of healing performed by a Malay Bomoh (Shaman) on a body of a fisherman which is in a deep state of unconsciousness. It is believed that the fisherman has been put under a spell by a princess of the sea who fall in love with him. The bomoh’s attempt to bring back the soul of the fisherman caused the princess to summons more of her sisters (5 of them) to charm the fisherman. 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 all 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 colleagues present the princess with coloured rice as an offerings, a ritual which continued to be practiced since then until the arrival of Islam, to pay their respects to the spirits of the sea.

Lyrics

The Ulek Mayang song is a unique song accompanying the dance. The song is claimed by some Malaysians as haunted for it gives goosebumps and creepy feelings. Nevertheless, there are several contemporary interpretations of the song either in movies or new songs. 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

Literal English translation

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

I croon for the Mayang Croon it with nets Croon for the Mayang Singing together with her highness the princess Croon for the Mayang Croon it with nets Croon for the Mayang Singing together with the second princess Second princess wears a slanted blouse Second princess sports a slanted headdress Second princess wears ivory earstuds Second princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with the fourth princess Fourth princess wears a slanted blouse Fourth princess sports a slanted headdress Fourth princess wears ivory earstuds Fourth princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with the sixth princess Sixth princess wears a slanted blouse Sixth princess sports a slanted headdress Sixth princess wears ivory earstuds Sixth princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with the seventh princess Seventh princess wears a slanted blouse Seventh princess sports a slanted headdress Seventh princess wears ivory earstuds Seventh princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with her highness the princess Her highness the princess wears a slanted blouse Her highness the princess sports a slanted headdress Her highness the princess wears ivory earstuds Her highness the princess has a yellow scarf on Persuading the Mayang Persuade it with nets Wanting to croon for the Mayang Singing together with her highness the princess I know all your origins Let those from the sea to return to the sea Let those from the land to return to the land I presents the coloured rice I persuade the Mayang Persuade it with nets I heal with Mayang Bringing back to health

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