Cukur Rambut
Today there was a cukur rambut ceremony for two very special babies, my Nephew Danial, and Niece, Nurish. Something about babies and their cuteness that makes them the centre of attraction at any family gathering. You just want to carry and hug them all over...hurhurhur..
Cukur Rambut literally translates to "Shave Hair", though more appropriately would be the term "Snip Bits of Hair". Guess the Malay translation of that would be rather long. The ceremony is usually held in concordance with a "Kenduri Doa Selamat", or Thanksgiving feast, which is usuallly held during the 40th to 45th day of the birth of the child, to thank Allah for keeping child and mother safe during childbirth. Now, the timing is more flexible, with more emphasis placed on the prayers recited for the children. The Hair Shaving aspect is more of a cultural practice among Malays, a custom that is also practiced amongst Chinese and Hindus.
The babies in the limelight, Danial with his Daddy, and Nurish with her Aunt....
Expectant family members awaiting the beginning of the event
The people who come to assist in the reading of prayers. Normally they are volunteers who take some time off in weekends to recite prayers for such events, normally with some stipend given to them by the family who asks for their services.
Ceremony begins with the daddies of the two babies(Hisyam and Salim) carrying them around the circle of "prayer leaders" who will take turns to snip their hair and place it into a young coconut, which is decorated with scented flowers. Coconut water is generally regarded as a solvent useful for the "cleansing" of the soul, used in bathing rituals and the such. For me, it makes an especially refreshing drink! That's Wak Mail, Danial's grandfather cutting his hair (refer to earlier posts to see pics of the newly born Danial).
Other Miscellaneous Pictures
Whipping out the Tablas for some music... rather entertaining too.
Photo Opportunity with Great Grandparents, Grandmother, and the Mayang
The backroom people, the ones that usually make an event happen, and receive the least credit for it... that's the mom in gold busying herself as usual.
2 Babes in the house...
Cukur Rambut literally translates to "Shave Hair", though more appropriately would be the term "Snip Bits of Hair". Guess the Malay translation of that would be rather long. The ceremony is usually held in concordance with a "Kenduri Doa Selamat", or Thanksgiving feast, which is usuallly held during the 40th to 45th day of the birth of the child, to thank Allah for keeping child and mother safe during childbirth. Now, the timing is more flexible, with more emphasis placed on the prayers recited for the children. The Hair Shaving aspect is more of a cultural practice among Malays, a custom that is also practiced amongst Chinese and Hindus.
The babies in the limelight, Danial with his Daddy, and Nurish with her Aunt....
Expectant family members awaiting the beginning of the event
The people who come to assist in the reading of prayers. Normally they are volunteers who take some time off in weekends to recite prayers for such events, normally with some stipend given to them by the family who asks for their services.
Ceremony begins with the daddies of the two babies(Hisyam and Salim) carrying them around the circle of "prayer leaders" who will take turns to snip their hair and place it into a young coconut, which is decorated with scented flowers. Coconut water is generally regarded as a solvent useful for the "cleansing" of the soul, used in bathing rituals and the such. For me, it makes an especially refreshing drink! That's Wak Mail, Danial's grandfather cutting his hair (refer to earlier posts to see pics of the newly born Danial).
Other Miscellaneous Pictures
Whipping out the Tablas for some music... rather entertaining too.
Photo Opportunity with Great Grandparents, Grandmother, and the Mayang
The backroom people, the ones that usually make an event happen, and receive the least credit for it... that's the mom in gold busying herself as usual.
2 Babes in the house...