Mah Meri Cultural Villages...

"We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children..." -Native American proverb

(Mah Meri dance masks - Google)

Mah Meri is one of the 18 indigenous tribes of Malaysia. Famed for their dance mask and the wooden sculptures. While many of the natives have assimilated into modern life, with jobs in nearby plantations and farms, much care has been taken to ensure that their ancient rituals and customs are documented and preserved.

We visited two Mah Meri Villages located in Pantai Cunang, Tanjung Sepat and Pantai Bagan Lalang. There was no festival at that time so the village was quite deserted.

(A Mah Meri Village at Pantai Cunang)

(A welcome greeting at the entrance)

(Visitors need to register here)

(The residence of the Mah Meri people)

There is a small gallery/museum and traditional house in the village compound that is open to visitors. The village is open throughout the year, but the best time to visit Mah Meri Cultural Village is during Hari Moyang or Ancestor Day, which takes place around March or April each year, Puja Pantai or during a wedding ceremony. During the festival, the tribesmen and women wear intricately carved masks and perform the mystifying Tarian Jo-oh or Jungle Dance and Tarian Topeng or Mask Dance, which are main features of the festival repertoire.

(Pos PGA Bagan Lalang)

(The entrance to the Mah Meri Village)

(A rest area and a surau by the beach)

(Meh Meri floral handicrafts)

During the festival, visitors will also be able to enjoy the Mah Meri seafood delicacies and have a hand at making origami flowers from coconut leaves.