KERJAK MENGERJAK : CIRCUMCISION CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE JAHUT TRIBE

The circumcision ceremony for the Jahut tribe is practiced for children aged between 12 and 13 years. This custom must be done for children who are old enough in Pian Orang Asli Village, Kuala Krau, and nearby villages.  The Jahut community in this village still uses traditional methods during the circumcision process. Important people involved in this ceremony are:

Tok Mudim

Penghulu Balai (Head of Society)

Tukang Gelanggang (Circumcision Court)

Tok Batin

Director

Boy Escort

Each of these people has their own role and responsibility so that the ceremony can run smoothly without any problems. Tok Mudim plays the role of a circumciser, the head of the station takes care of the area, and the ringmaster is the person who will performs martial arts to welcome the arrival of the child who will be circumcised. Batin-batin and others act as greeters, celebrate the guests, and ensure that the event runs smoothly, cheerfully, and without problems. While the Director has the role of monitoring and directing those who prepare food, cook, serve, and so on. The escort was given the task of taking the child to the circumcision place holding a betel leaf.

Before circumcision, the child will bathe in the river from morning until noon. Food and drink will be delivered to the river by the escort. After that, the boy escort will take the children to the traditional hall to see the silat performance performed by the ringmaster. After the performance, the child was sent to Tok Mudim to be circumcised. Usually, this circumcision ceremony is done in large groups with the parents or the custodian will share the cost of the council's expenses together. The ceremony is done on a gotong-royong basis and lasts two to three days, depending on the ability of the host (organizer).

'LARANGAN' OR ABSTINENCE

The circumcision ceremony can be done on a large scale and carried out for up to three days and two nights. Prior to circumcision, the child is not allowed to leave the house for 3 days and cannot step on the chicken dung.

CIRCUMCISED EQUIPMENT

There are several pieces of equipment that are used during circumcision. Among them are knives, shells, and a special type of leaf for circumcision. Circumcised children need to sit on a rice tree. Just finish the circumcised event all the tools will be thrown into the river.

HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN OF CIRCUMCISION

According to the oldest people in Kampung Pian, the historical origin of the Jahut people performed a sunnah ceremony starting in the last generation when there was a man who migrated to the village of the jahut tribe because of the shame of being called a 'kulop' by his native villagers because it cannot be circumcised. The man had been studying from Batin Jahut's wife. Batin's wife is called the inner woman because the residents will refer to her because she is considered a smart and well-educated person. After several years of study, the man finally married his inner child. As a result of the marriage, she was awarded a man's eye. The man asked his father-in-law for permission to hold a circumcision ceremony because, in his people, the son was obliged to be circumcised. In the early stages, his father-in-law disagreed for fear of death from circumcision. After being persuaded and explained the virtues of circumcision, his father-in-law agreed to hold the ceremony. It was stated that the Jahut community continued to practice and maintain the custom of the sunnah ceremony for their boys.