Friday, July 16, 2010

Reminiscing the Past Grand Malay Weddings

I was invited to attend an Akad Nikah ceremony on the evening of 15 July at one of the exclusive neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur which is neighbouring the grounds of the Istana Negara which is still under construction. The card was sent to me by one of the office staff of the host whose office is situated in Bangsar, and looking from the box which is tastefully designed (it is an invitation card really) I knew that the person who is inviting me is indeed one of the " Nouveu Riche " which fellow blogger " Norzah " had written about recently. But this " Nouveu Riche " is not a sleeping partner of a Chinese towkay or a proxy of any VVIP but he worked hard to be where he is now, but of course the NEP had a hand in helping him too.

Upon receiving the invitation, I immediately could guess from whom it came from because he is a close relative. When he was still studying in Australia, his father passed away and before he died he was mumbling something which I could not comprehend but only heard he mentioned the name of this prodigal son who was also a product of the other school which was at one time catering exclusively for the Malay aristocracy and their cohorts. Probably he wanted to know how his son was doing, and a few days after that he died.

Now that prodigal son of his is a multi-millionaire if not a billionaire. I met many of my kampong relatives who were present at his newly occupied palatial mansion and the celeberation just for the Nikah just reminds me of what my grandmother used to describe as " Olek Bosa " and fit for a King. In the past Malay weddings lasted for three days and three nights and complete with all the ceremonies which reflect the social standing of the person. Last night's event was just a repeat of that "Grand Malay Weddings " which is absolutely grand and expensive. My cousin who is also an invited guest came all the way from Seremban and he was so excited that he asked me to accompany him to explore the three levels of the house and urged me like an excited child to try the lift in the house. Of course I obliged him and said how I wished I could own a palatial mansion like it, but that is just wishful thinking. I met also many old friends, and one of them was Mariah who attended the SEP 40 Course in LBS London, way back in 1997 when I was still a public servant. I also met Molly and OP Azat and he profusely apologised for not being able to attend my invitation last 19 June 2010.

There is another reception that will be held this weekend at Mandarin Oriental but I had told the host that I would not be able to attend that function. And there will also be a post wedding celeberation in the following weekend to be held also at his palatial mansion where merrymaking, movies, dancing and singing will remind us of " The Olek Bosa ". Fortunately I was not invited to that celeberation.In the yonder years of the past where the post wedding night was celeberated with "Joget Moden" and where "Joget Girls" would adorn the night in the compound of the family abode in Terachi, Kuala Pilah it would last till the wee hours of the morning. But all those had gone into the recess of my memory chip upstairs and now this grand wedding is to be repeated after more that half a century at the heart of the federal Capital neighbouring the grounds of the new " Istana" and the address is always associated with 'Gold' as a symbol of the " Nouveu Riche".

7 comments:

kaykuala said...

Dear Hal,
Happy is the son (or daughter) that is so lucky to have a rich father to be given a memorable and grand wedding that can long be remembered.

Sometimes it is good to witness such grandeur and happenings that are steeped with traditions.

People with money should make a show of the various ceremonial events to keep alive the rich culture which otherwise would be thrown into oblivion, and we are none the wiser.

abdulhalimshah said...

Dear Hank,
In the world of digitalisation, I am afraid the past old traditions like wedding ceremonies which is time consuming and to the uninitiated will be burdensome will go into oblivion. It is not that society is going to abandon its 'culture' but owing to the fast-moving pace of life, many would be just forgotten and expediency override all these so-called traditions.
As I see it, our elaborate ceremonies could well be further simplified without any loss of 'traditions' if we just stick to the fundamentals. In our search for truth and relevance, we must be prepared to be innovative and creative without being burdened with bothersome extravaganza that is not going to benefit us when we are asked to account for all our deeds at Al-Yaumiddeen.

Al-Manar said...

AHS
It makes me feel rather sorry to see excesses that do not have a benefitial end. Even doing good itself has its limit. Why should there be tendency among us to enjoy being admired in richness? We know the answer because we are old and wiser, maybe.
Salaam

abdulhalimshah said...

Dear Pak Cik,
Not only that, what I fear most is that the "Noveau Riche" is straying away from the path of righteousness and totally forgetting the reason for their existence. It is not wrong to become rich but it is wrong to forget your roots and what you were if not it is the Blessings of ALLAH.
I am grateful for being given the Blessings of ALLAH not in the form of wealth or social status but most important of all things is the Faith (Iman) because when Malikal-Maut is waiting to take our last breath away I would be able to utter the Kalimah Tauhid. For that no amount of money or property can equal that.

norzah said...

Wedding's one of the social functions where the nouveau riche can exhibit their wealth and treat their friends to a sumptuous reception, Akhi Halim. I've no comment and can only smile with wonderment at how grand the reception can be when everything is paid for with honestly-earned gains. Otherwise the food consumed may revolt in the tummy of the unblemished souls. More disturbing is when the grandiose reception is held at public expense, both legally or otherwise.

In any case modern receptions are certainly different from what we used to enjoy as young men in Kuala Pilah, Terachi, Ulu Bendul etc. The fampus joget as you described was invariably the highlight of the reception. Well, even that is questioned now by the ulamaks while the wasteful splurge we see today is not. I suppose the son or daughter whose entry into the matrimonial world we celebrate, expects to be given a grand reception and we'd be severely criticised if we fail to do so. It's a pity that some of us will have to mend a huge rend in the pocket after such an event. You're of course one of the blessed ones if you can take it in the stride.

Capt's Longhouse said...

dear Hal,

...when i got married in 1975, we had the whole kampong folks to cook plus most even brought their beras, i managed only to get a "kerbau" as the main dish !.
...in fact, i flew in by my chopper for the wedding and was flown off the very next day since we were fighting against the CTs then. (i was with the RMAF as a Chopper Pilot)
...still happily married for past 35 years hahhhaha.

abdulhalimshah said...

Dear Capt Longhouse,
Praise be only to ALLAH, your 35 years of bliss is the proof of the "Barakah" from that wedding "Kerbau" meat and the "Beras" from your kampong folks. It meant much more than just a show of dross, where a million ringgit can be easily spent on a lavish wedding nowadays, but there is no guarantee that it would even last a year.