The mistery of

Puteri Ulek Mayang

• Natasya
• Aisyah
• Yuvaa
• Humaira
 Ulek Mayang
• Ulek Mayang is a classical Malay dance from the state of Terengganu
in Malaysia.
• It is a ritualistic dance performed to appease or invoke the spirits of
the sea and is always accompanied by a unique song also called Ulek
Mayang.
• An orchestra comprising drums, gong, violin and accordion
accompanies the dance.The word "Ulek" means entreat, while
"Mayang" refers to sheaves of areca palm flowers.
Part 1

• The story of this dance began a long time ago. According to legend, a
band of fishermen living on an island off the coast of Terengganu went
out to sea one evening to catch fish.
• They rowed their sampans (narrow wooden boats) far out to sea where
suddenly, they encountered a terrible storm.
• All the fishermen were tossed violently into the sea, where each of them
struggled to keep their heads above the water and swam with great
difficulty towards the shore.
Part 2

• A stormy night passed and the next day, the bodies of the fishermen
washed up to the shore.
• Miraculously, the fishermen woke up one after another, thankful to be
alive. Almost all that is.
• One fisherman remained in a deep state of unconsciousness. He
remained motionless, as if dead.
• The other fishermen were saddened by this, as he was a great friend of
theirs.
Part 3

• They suspected that while physically he was on the beach, his soul
might have been enticed to wander into the another world.
• And so they summoned a pawang (shaman) to bring their friend back.
The pawang (shaman) prepared several items for the summoning
ritual.
• Among them were kemenyan (incense), turmeric coloured rice and
mayang pinang (sheaves of areca palm flowers).
Part 4

• Night fell, and the ceremony to revive the lost fisherman began.
• The pawang (shaman) attempts to bring the soul of the fisherman back
to earth.
• Sensing that her grip over him is slipping, the princess summons her
sister, and the two of them put charms on the fisherman.
• In a fierce battle between the pawang (shaman) and the spirits, two
more sisters are summoned to charm the fisherman, and then two
more.
Part 5

• As the clash built up towards a devastating climax, a seventh – the

eldest Spirit Princess enters the showground.
• Far more beautiful, more powerful and the wisest of her sisters, the
pawang (shaman) takes this opportunity to plea to her for the return of
the fisherman’s soul.
• Learning of the mischievous behaviour of her sisters, the eldest Spirit
Princess puts a stop to the battle.
• “I know all your origins,” she tells and commands everyone, “Let those
from the sea return to the sea, and those from the land return to the
land.”
Part 6

• Grateful for the release of the fisherman’s soul, the pawang (shaman)
presented the Spirit Princess with turmeric coloured rice. The
fisherman awakens. From then on (and until the introduction of Islam
in Malaya), offerings were ritually presented to the Spirits of the Sea,
whom the fishermen once worshipped.