Why Singai still honours sacred skulls once a year

The tengkorak preserved inside the Kampung Barieng baruk are honoured during the annual Ma'ad Najur ritual, which forms part of Gawai Pinonguh celebrations among the Bisingai community. Photo credit: Ismail bin Roslan

By Shikin Louis

BAU, June 7: Long after warfare and headhunting faded into history, the Bisingai community of Singai continues to observe an annual ritual honouring preserved tengkorak believed to possess spiritual significance, reflecting a tradition that has endured through generations.

Known as Ma’ad Najur, the ceremony is held only once a year during Gawai Pinonguh, marking the end of the harvest season and serving as an act of respect towards ancestral heritage, spiritual guardians and the sacred items preserved within the baruk.

Held at the Kampung Barieng baruk in conjunction with the Singai Cultural Carnival 2026 yesterday, the ritual was led by the Ketua Adat through the recitation of traditional chants and ritual prayers.

According to information provided by the organisers, the term “Najur” refers to the erection of a tajur — a tall bamboo pole with its leaves intact — and a tikarak, a bamboo stalk split into several sections at its upper end.

Central to the ceremony is the invocation of “Kotas Mikanai”, regarded as the spiritual guardian or owner of the baruk.

Through ritual prayers, the Ketua Adat calls upon Kotas Mikanai to descend and continue watching over the baruk and the tengkorak preserved within it.

The ceremony also involves the application of Tubi Sobud — rice coloured red through the chewing of betel leaves and areca nut — as well as Toki Tuak, the sediment of traditional rice wine, onto the skulls.

Tengkorak preserved in the Kampung Barieng baruk are believed to possess spiritual significance and are honoured during the annual Ma’ad Najur ritual. Photo credit: Ismail bin Roslan

Organisers explained that the practice symbolises purification, nourishment and care for the spirits while expressing respect for the skulls and seeking continued protection from the spiritual realm.

The tengkorak, believed to have belonged to warriors or enemies defeated during ngonyu (enemy raids) in earlier times, are regarded not as objects of fear but as sacred items carrying spiritual significance.

For the Bisingai community, the ritual serves as a reminder of the relationship between the physical and spiritual worlds, as well as the importance of preserving traditions inherited from their ancestors.

While many traditional rituals have evolved over time, Ma’ad Najur remains one of the customs that continues to be observed, linking present-day generations with beliefs and practices that have shaped the community’s cultural identity for centuries.

The interior of the Kampung Barieng baruk, where the annual Ma’ad Najur ritual is conducted as part of efforts to preserve Bisingai cultural heritage. Photo credit: Ismail bin Roslan

Following the ceremony, guests gathered inside the baruk to share purut — glutinous rice cooked in bamboo — and refreshments in a communal fellowship.

The gathering concluded with four rounds of the customary toast accompanied by the prolonged cry of “Traaaaaaaaa… Weeeeeeee!”, marking the successful completion of the annual ritual.

The Ma’ad Najur ceremony formed part of the wider Singai Cultural Carnival 2026 programme, which celebrates the customs, heritage and living traditions of the Bisingai community.

The Kampung Barieng barouk, a traditional Bidayuh communal structure that serves as a centre for rituals, decision-making and community gatherings.

— DayakDaily