Sarawak 'Ring Lady' to keep tradition alive till the end

By Anasathia Jenis

PADAWAN (Sarawak), Nov 26 -- "I will continue the tradition of my ancestors by wearing brass rings on my forearms (rayung) and calves (rasung) till the day I die," said Tawud Luhan.

Tawud, 75, is believed to be one of three Bidayuh women who continue the "paad padi" (bringing home padi from the fields) tradition of wearing the rayung and rasung that weigh a total of up to three kilogrammes.

Speaking to Bernama through an interpreter, Tawud said she, however, understands if today's generation of Bidayuh women decides not to continue the tradition due to the constraints of the present lifestyle.

The mother of 12 said the wearing of the ornaments usually begins from a young age. Besides that, the art of wrapping the rings is precision work for them to look neat and beautiful.

"I am not sad that girls today do not want to use the rings, However, I will continue to wear them so that the culture of our ancestors will not be forgotten.

''My friends and I who still wear these rings have carried out our responsibility to keep our culture alive all this time. However, the younger generation may find these rings too heavy to use," said Tawud who hails from Kampung Semban, Padawan, about 45 kilometres from Kuching city.

It is understood that wearing these ornaments is not just a status symbol and for beauty but as recognition that the wearers will be allowed to attend special festivals and perform traditional ceremonies.

Although she has moved to the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme, Tawud said it has not prevented her and the two friends from carrying on with their daily lives.

According to her, in the past there were five of them who carried on their tradition of being ring ladies, however, one of them died last year and another could not carry on wearing the rings due to health reasons.

Realising that the tradition of the Bidayuh Biatah women is becoming extinct, a mural featuring the five women dressed in traditional attire adorns a building in Kota Padawan here.

This is one of the Sarawak government's initiatives to promote cultural diversity in the state.

Tawud and her two friends were members of a cultural troupe invited to Lo Spirito Del Pianeta (International Festival of Indigenous and Tribal Groups) in Milan, Italy in 2016.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said various initiatives will be implemented to ensure the traditions, culture, and heritage of the tribes in Sarawak will not be eroded with time.

He said the cultural journey of the state would be immortalised at the Borneo Cultural Museum that will showcase the various cultures of Sarawak. The museum is expected to be opened soon.

"The reality is that some cultures will become extinct but by empowering these tribes, their traditions and customs will be kept alive through various initiatives, especially to ensure that it helps promote tourism here," he also said.

He said the diversity of races, customs and cultures in Sarawak is a symbol of the state, adding that it is an international brand to be highlighted to the rest of the world.

-- BERNAMA