Changes in Cultural Practices of the Melanau Community in the Kaul Festival in Mukah, Sarawak

This paper work is about the Kaul Festival, which is a festival that combines elements of religion, belief and customs of the Melanau community in Mukah, Sarawak. In the past, this Kaul was a type of religious festival celebrated by the Melanau 'pagan' community. It is a worship ceremony for them to ask for the blessing from the guardians of the sea, land and forest in order to have peace and security when carrying their daily activities for sustenance in those places. Changes in religion and beliefs among the Melanau community also changed the application and belief of Kaul. The presence of Islam and Christianity brings a new scenario to Kaul which is more suitable to be seen as a socio-cultural party. However, there is still hidden a uniqueness of the Melanau community's heritage that still maintains in the traditional ceremonies and adapts them with the passage of time. The problem of the research is how the Kaul Festival are still celebrated as a religious festival in the Melanau community. The objective of this research is to identify changes in the cultural customs of the Melanau community regarding the Kaul Festival. This study uses an ethnographic approach in order to obtain the required data. This study was carried out in Mukah over a seven-day period. The ethnographic approach that were used consists of field studies and literature studies. Field research conducted were to obtain data such as observation, participation and interviews. The method of observation and participation is used to ensure that the data collected and collected are suitable for the study. The interview method uses a semi-structured interview technique by interviewing some traditional practitioners and authoritative elders in the Melanau community. Bibliography research such as journals, books and printed reports are to support this research by contributing a a secondary materials. Primary and secondary data need to undergone a screening process by using thematic analysis techniques and proofreading in order to obtain the correct data in accordance with the research. The findings discovered were that the Melanau community still maintains and celebrates the Kaul Festival even though there has been an adaptation and assimilation in the Melanau community. Currently the Kaul Festival has become one of the festivals that not only specifically bring together the Melanau community, but has also brought together other various community who want to share in the joy of the Kaul Festival. The organization of this festival not only reminds the customs and heritage traditions of the Melanau community, but becomes a platform to generate the economy and elevate Mukah as a heritage tourism destination. Therefore, this research are expected to give contribution of knowledge to the younger generation in general, especially the new generation of the Melanau community regarding the customs and identity of the Melanau community.