Keeping Dusun Tindal tradition alive
Published on: Sun, Jul 06, 2025
By: R Gonzales Text Size: Children taking part in the 'Rebut Mahligai' event. WEDDING ceremonies in Kampung Piasau, Kota Belud, have become vibrant showcases of Dusun Tindal cultural traditions, drawing hundreds of guests to witness age-old customs that continue to thrive in the modern era. Village head Limpu Miod, 70, said these traditional festivities begin after the formal religious ceremony, when newlyweds change from Western attire into traditional 'Sinipak' clothing worn by the Dusun Tindal, Bajau Samah and Iranun communities.
Advertisement The celebration's centrepiece is a colourful procession featuring a specially decorated four-wheel vehicle designed to resemble a boat, known as 'kereta perahu'. The bride and groom, accompanied by their wedding party, are paraded through the village in this ornate vehicle adorned with traditional fabrics - a practice that dates back to pre-digital times when it served as a community-wide wedding invitation. 'This method was used long ago when there were no phones or internet to inform villagers about wedding celebrations,' Limpu. 'We maintain this tradition to ensure our Dusun Tindal identity is not eroded by modern technology,' he added. The procession concludes with the traditional 'Sipak Manggis' ceremony, where couples circle a 15m bamboo pole three times. Unlike sepak takraw, the groom kicks a ball thrown by the bride toward a decorated miniature house suspended from the pole. This ritual officially marks the wedding's commencement. Originally, the hanging container held mangosteen fruit, but modern celebrations feature cash prizes and gifts. The game continues with family members and guests participating to win prizes, fostering community bonds and strengthening relationships between families. Children enjoy their own tradition called 'Rebut Mahligai' where snacks, chocolates, and money-filled envelopes are suspended from a decorated frame for youngsters 12 and under to collect under adult supervision, including volunteers from the Malaysian Volunteer Department (Rela). The festivities conclude with Sumazau dancing performed by cultural dancers, typically close relatives of the couple, accompanied by traditional gongs, drums and kulintangan music. Rayner, 25, a family member from the Dusun Liwan community in Kiulu, Tuaran, described the experience as uniquely harmonious. 'This was my first time riding the 'kereta perahu' as a groomsman and wearing traditional Sinipak clothing while playing 'Sipak Manggis,'' he said. The celebration, attended by over 500 guests, showed how traditional wedding customs continue to serve as vital platforms for preserving ethnic heritage while strengthening community bonds across generations.
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