Attended a very fascinating Malay ceremony today at the Seri Menanti Palace in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. Its called 'Melenggang Perut' - literally means 'to swing stomach'. It was performed on Tunku Myra who is 7 months pregnant. The whole idea behind this ceremony is to determine the gender of the baby and to bless the mother-to-be for a smooth delivery.
There were 2 stages involved where the first was only witnessed by female family members and friends. Myra was lying in the middle of a holding room and was surrounded by 8 midwives. Each midwife took turns to feel and rub her stomach. Once that was done, the head midwife used a scarf and wrapped Myra's stomach and was swingging and cradling it before she threw the scarf up in the air. Women who are married and plan to have children meant to be catching the scarf - it is very similar to catching the bride's bouquet. There were 7 scarfs all in all and I caught one as well... :-)
Then, all of us adjourned to another ceremony outdoor where the men were already seated. Myra was escorted in and the midwives performed another ceremony where she was bathed in water. The highlight of the whole ceremony was when a coconut was being slash opened, this was meant to determine the sex of the baby. If the coconut juice squirts upwards, means its a BOY and if it goes sideways, its a GAL. They are expecting a boy, we all knew that already, from the scan... That concluded the 'Melenggang Perut' ceremony.
Lunch was served and of coz, lots of protocols involved as the former king was there. A band was playing and everyone seem to be having a good time.
Glad that we went, it was quite an experience.
PS: If you have not noticed, the husband and father-to-be was not being mentioned and has nothing to do with the whole ceremony at all.
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