FEATURE Hari Moyang, a celebration by the Mah Meri tribe of their ancestral spirits, has been a well-preserved tradition despite the rapid development around Carey Island, their ancestral home.

Amid the expansion of the wider Klang Valley, the Mah Meri people have opened their doors to outsiders to join them in their celebration.

Today, Hari Moyang is not only known among many Malaysians but also international tourists.

The date of Hari Moyang can vary, as it first requires a village chief to communicate with the moyang (ancestral spirit).

There are five Mah Meri villages around Pulau Carey and the village of Sungai Judah recently celebrated their Hari Moyang on Feb 1.

“This year, we’re celebrating the birthday of Moyang Getah (rubber spirit), along with other moyangs.

“I tell the moyang what festivities we have planned for Hari Moyang and the moyang tell me when it will be for this year,” said Daimon Pron, the village’s fifth generation tok batin.

The Sungai Judah village’s beach-side ritual is also called Puja Pantai, which not only seeks to honor the spirits but also heal the sea.

Moyang are spirits that watch over the Mah Meri villages, and each of the five villages have their own Hari Moyang to honor the different ancestral spirits.

The people of Sungai Judah village can trace back their ancestry to the seafaring nomads before they came to settle on what is today known as Carey Island, thus the natural affinity to the sea.