Shamans hold 2nd ritual at Mt Kinabalu

Another ritual was conducted at Sabah's Kinabalu Park on Saturday in a bid to appease Mount Kinabalu's spirits.

The ceremony, which came more than two weeks after an earthquake which killed 18 people including 10 Singaporeans, involved the sacrifice of a buffalo and the chanting of ancient prayers.

Mr Abas Rintingan, 93, a shaman, slaughtered a buffalo near the Timpohon Gate, where climbers begin their trek up the mountain, Malaysia's The Star reported.

Villagers from nearby Bundu Tuhan and Kampung Kiau were present.

The ceremony was organised by the Council of Elders of Mount Kinabalu, comprising representatives from these two villages.

Council coordinator Johnny Ghani said that after the buffalo was slaughtered, parts of the animal, including the tip of the nose, the liver, the heart and some of the meat, were sliced off and taken by Mr Abas. The shaman took the animal parts to a site at the mountain.

Mr Ghani told The Star that these "were the offerings to the mountain spirits", adding that the other parts of the buffalo were cooked at a hall in Kinabalu Park and the food shared among villagers who went to witness the ritual.

HARMONY

He said that the sharing of food was to "signify the harmony among the people".

"We are hoping that after this ritual, the spirits of the mountain will cool down if they are angered by the actions of human beings," he said.

Mr Ghani also said the council plans to hold another ritual to appease the spirits before repair work is carried out on the mountain.

This article was first published on June 22, 2015.
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