Tuanku Muhriz and his consort Tuanku Aishah being transported on a special carriage called the Takhta Rencana to Panca Persada, a ceremonial dais for a bathing ceremony during the Istiadat Ulangan Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung Mengadap Menjunjung Duli ceremony.
FAMED for its Adat Perpatih (customary laws), Negri Sembilan has a wealth of fascinating traditions. Among them is the Istiadat Ulangan Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung Mengadap Menjunjung Duli, a ceremony steeped in heritage and history. Typically held triennially, the ceremony dates back to 1898 during the reign of Tuanku Muhammad Tuanku Antah, the great-grandfather of the present Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.Locals and foreign visitors were fortunate enough to witness a slice of history during the most recent edition of the event which was held from Nov 17 to 19.
A spectacular showcase of pomp and grandeur, the three-day event commemorated the state’s unique traditions, passed down through generations.
In the weeks leading up to the event, the royal town of Seri Menanti was bedecked in state colours.
Yellow, red, and black pennants billowed along the town’s streets, setting the stage for the time-honoured event.
The atmosphere in the charming town was festive throughout the period, underscoring an event of great historical importance.
The Istiadat Ulangan Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung Mengadap Menjunjung Duli reaffirms an-over-a- century-old pledge of allegiance by the penghulu (chieftains) of several luak (districts) to the state Ruler.
This show of loyalty originates from the union of the different luak under one Ruler – the Yang di Pertuan Besar or Yamtuan.
Based on historical sources, Negri Sembilan was founded as a sovereign entity in 1773 by Raja Melewar, a member of the Pagar Ruyong royal family in Sumatra who was invited by local chieftains to become the first Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, a federation of nine “states”.
In the intervening decades, turmoil including a British incursion and the annexation of Naning to Melaka, resulted in an unstable political climate.
Given shared economic and political interests, an agreement was made in 1885 to reconstitute the federation of Negri Sembilan.
This ultimately led to the Istiadat Ulangan Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung Mengadap Menjunjung Duli, an affirmation of allegiance that ensured continued peace and prosperity for the state.
In true Negri Sembilan tradition, the main event was heralded by two days of festivities entrenched in age-old customs.
Tuanku Muhriz and Tuanku Aishah Rohani at the Panca Persada which is part of the unique Istiadat Ulangan Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung Mengadap Menjunjung Duli ceremony.
The highlight of day one was Istiadat Menurun dan Memasang Alat Kebesaran, the emplacement of the royal regalia in the forecourt of Istana Besar Seri Menanti.
Day two unfolded with Istiadat Bersiram, the royal bathing ceremony.
Before the ceremony could begin, Tuanku Muhriz and his consort Tunku Ampuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud were transported to Panca Persada, the ceremonial dais, in a special royal carriage called Takhta Rencana.
The procession was led by musicians who sang praises of Prophet Muhammad accompanied by the rhythmic beating of century-old gongs punctuated with the booms of cannon fire.
The carriage, pulled by smartly uniformed Pegawai 99 or ceremonial guard, was a sight to behold.
Once the royal couple had disembarked and were seated on the dais, they were presented with cepu bedak limau or lime water by the Orang Empat Istana (four senior palace officials) for a symbolic cleansing ritual. After the ceremony, the crowd was treated to traditional dance performances.
The much-awaited main event took place at the palace’s Balairong Seri on day three, when the penghulu luak, elected following the matrilineal clan system, declared their allegiance to Tuanku Muhriz, as their forebears once did to former state Rulers.
The penghulu luak who pledged their allegiance were from Luak Ulu Muar, Luak Jempol, Luak Terachi, Luak Gunung Pasir and Luak Ineh. The event was even more special as 2023 marked the 250th year of the state monarchy.
In his address, Tuanku Muhriz said since its institution in 1898, the ceremony mirrored the loyalty and allegiance of the penghulu luak under the patronage of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan in line with the phrase “Alam yang berajo, luak yang berpenghulu”.
Translated, the phrase means that there is a Ruler for every place, country or region.
The Ruler said that detailed research was currently underway to document facts related to the establishment of the Negri Sembilan monarchy. This research aims to give a more accurate picture of the state’s history by focusing only on documented evidence.
“It is important to know the right history as history connects us to the past and guides our future.
“The accurate recording and documenting of facts is a discipline that has to be practised by all parties particularly the authorities, academic institutions and historians,” Tuanku Muhriz said.
An advocate for justice, Tuanku Muhriz also decried the tweaking of historical facts, saying such acts went against educational and intellectual ethics as they denied future generations the truth.
“A complete record of the history of monarchy in the state is imperative to defend the state’s sovereignty, particularly in identifying the boundaries of power.
“Through the monarchy, the Yang di Pertuan Besar plays a vital role in uniting every district in the state of Negri Sembilan,” Tuanku Muhriz said, adding that he hoped the research findings would serve as a resource to the state administration and the public to maintain the state’s sovereignty and the harmony of its multi-racial population.
