The Malaysian Insider Logo Sunday, 24 November 2024

gallery

The Mah Meri and the sea

26 Feb 2015 — Mah Meri is a subgroup of the Orang Asli tribe, Senoi, and live along the coast of Selangor, particularly from Sungai Pelek to Pulau Carey. Every year for many centuries, a small Mah Meri village in Pulau Carey takes part in a ritual called "Puja Pantai" to appease the spirits of the seas which provide them much of their economy. The Malaysian Insider photographer, Muhkriz Hazim, visited and recorded this year's events.

Members of the Mah Meri tribe walk towards the beach for their

Members of the Mah Meri tribe walk towards the beach for their "Puja Pantai", a thanksgiving ritual to appease the spirits of the seas, in the village of Pulau Carey, off Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Food is prepared to feed the spirits of ancestors during the

Food is prepared to feed the spirits of ancestors during the "Puja Pantai" ritual to appease the spirits of the seas, in the village of Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shrine erected for the

A shrine erected for the "Puja Pantai" ritual at a beach in Pulau Carey, where the Mah Meri indigenous people reside. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Members of the Mah Meri tribe walk towards a shrine erected for the

Members of the Mah Meri tribe walk towards a shrine erected for the "Puja Pantai" ritual in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Participants perform prayers on the beach during low tide as they carry out the

Participants perform prayers on the beach during low tide as they carry out the "Puja Pantai" ritual in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman of the Mah Meri tribe performs prayers on the beach as they carry out the

A shaman of the Mah Meri tribe performs prayers on the beach as they carry out the "Puja Pantai" ritual in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman of the Mah Meri tribe performs prayers on the beach as they carry out the

A shaman of the Mah Meri tribe performs prayers on the beach as they carry out the "Puja Pantai" ritual in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman of Mah Meri tribe walks down the shrine erected for the

A shaman of Mah Meri tribe walks down the shrine erected for the "Puja Pantai" ritual in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman from the Mah Meri tribe performs a prayer during

A shaman from the Mah Meri tribe performs a prayer during "Puja Pantai" ritual in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Shamans from the Mah Meri tribe perform the

Shamans from the Mah Meri tribe perform the "Main Jo-oh" dance, part of the Puja Pantai" rituals in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Members of Malaysia’s indigenous Mah Meri participate in the Main Jo-oh

Members of Malaysia’s indigenous Mah Meri participate in the Main Jo-oh" dance, part of the Puja Pantai" rituals in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Female members of the Mah Meri tribe dance during the

Female members of the Mah Meri tribe dance during the "Puja Pantai" to appease the spirits of the seas, in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman in wooden mask from the Mah Meri tribe joins in the

A shaman in wooden mask from the Mah Meri tribe joins in the "Main Jo-oh" dance during the "Puja Pantai" to appease the spirits of the seas, in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Children from the indigenous Mah Meri tribe receive blessings from an elderly village leader after taking part in a dance on for their

Children from the indigenous Mah Meri tribe receive blessings from an elderly village leader after taking part in a dance on for their "Puja Pantai" thanksgiving ritual to appease the spirits of the seas, in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman in a wooden mask gives blessings in rituals to celebrate the Puja Pantai

A shaman in a wooden mask gives blessings in rituals to celebrate the Puja Pantai" ceremony, in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

A shaman in wooden mask walks away from a shrine erected for the Mah Meri tribe

A shaman in wooden mask walks away from a shrine erected for the Mah Meri tribe's "Puja Pantai" ceremony in Pulau Carey, Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, February 26, 2015.

Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments