I was just talking to a client just now and she sort of mentioned that she needed to "mandi bunga", since her business wasn't doing too good lately. Out of curiosity, I asked her what do they do during these "mandi bunga" rituals? Well, according to this gal, she would normally call in advance and book a date and time with this "bomoh" in some far away kampung (So high class one!!! Must book in advance some more!!!). Apparently, this bomoh will need the time to enter deep into the jungles to collect several types of lime grown wild in the forest plus 11 herbs and spices for the ritual. :-D Ok, I made the last part up. It was some wild betelnut leaves and some flowers to fulfill the potion lah. Anyway, Mr. Bomoh have to go into trance and fast for dunno how many days before this ritual can be done. Come mandi day, she would have to mandi berkemban at the entrance of the Mr. Bomoh's house with the concoction made with all the original recipe made by Mr. Bomoh himself. Then, as a symbolic ritual, the batik used to cover herself has to be discarded (like getting rid of all the bad luck lah).
Anyway, I did ask her how effective is this ritual? She said that it works and she normally does it once in several months to buang sway. I personally wouldn't know lah. After all, the cost of each ritual was quite expensive when I asked. RM400-500 wor!!! To me, it's more of a psychological euphoria one gets from each ritual because you may think that since all the bad karma has been washed away during this cleansing ritual, you start with a fresh slate. Hence, you tend to perform better in your work. A simple way to explain is probably likening the effect with a relaxing vacation or a day at the spa.
Would I give it a try? I don't know...Nevertheless, my guess is many Malaysian's still strongly believe in this ritual, be they young or old. I guess it's no harm as long one need not be nude or have the bomoh handling your body in any ways lah. We've heard enough news published on bagus bomoh's raping ladies seeking their help. What do you think?
Mandi bunga = cleansing ritual
Kampung = village
Bomoh = witch doctor
Mandi = bath
Berkemban = to wrap oneself around with a piece of cloth, towel, etc...
Batik = local handprinted cloth
Buang sway = get rid of bad karma
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4 comments:
Yo! Thanks for stopping by at my blog. Didn't know you blogged! :p You should have announced it via Cordy's newsletter. Hehehe ...
Anyway, we also used bomoh when we have to do outdoor events. The bomoh will help to delay the rain and ensure fine weather. I'm not sure if it was the bomoh or the weather that was kind to us in the last 2 events when we used the bomoh.
The sky was heavy with dark clouds. It drizzled shortly but then remained dark and cloudy the rest of the time but no rain! Yayy! So the events went on without much of a hitch! Believe it or NOT.
Leanne: Didn't know that you are also into bomohs. LOL!!! Keep up the blogging!
Anonymous: Thanks but no thanks. :)
mandi in front of the bomoh? later the bomoh hamsup how :P
Oli: Err... you hamsup back lor..hehehehe
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