Burung Petala Processions
burung petala procession literary celestial bird procession malay perarakan burung petala jawi ڤراراكن بوروڠ ڤتالا‎ referred series imperial parade commemorate circumcision ceremony kelantanese nobility grand cavalcade prince royal entourage celebrated around kota bharu via large birdlike processional cart notably grand chariot known burung petala indra tandu burung petalawati procession held three time celebration rooted historical grand parade observed preislamic era northern coast malay peninsula noted old record chi tu chinese ambassador kingdom would paraded similar fashion upon arrival city state largely originated custom hold every state delegation celebrated akin return god heavenly abode kingdom managed obtained strong diplomatic relationship ancient china derived epic celebration delegation bird mobilised official use including enthronement prince arrival state delegation royal circumcision celebration use bird would nestled special chamber courtier delegated task conducting ritual guard spirit several variant bird pattani including gagak suro raven karawek kalaviṅka merak ma golden peacock garuda burung singa lion bird procession later recorded great detail upon arrival british colonial administrator kelantan traditional malay custom child would usually carried shoulder dad abode place circumcision held affluent malay family ceremony would lavish child would transported processional carrier form boat small mosquelike structure group men philosophical correspondence rite passage boy men elaborate practise celebration would include march men weapon musical performance even ceremonial food included parade based record ghulamsarwar yousof narrated sultan dream burung petala wati traditional guardian kelantan following account ordered construction mystical thunderbird prince another version origin petala wati denotes far secular account believed construction ark mainly illustrate grandeur kelantanese monarch please british colonial resident time intrigued local malay culture heritage folklore design chariot emulated many ornamental figure derived ancient malay mythology kingship tale malay hikayats based narration paul j coatalen interview local malay bomoh shaman parallel kelantanese imperial vessel asserts ceremonial vehicle symbol malay mysticism adopted based upon legendary promise made ancestor kelantan king loyal warrior known isma dewa pekerma raja based record coatalen haji mubin sheppard “processional bird kelantan” “the giant bird” asserted strong correlation royal barge pertala sri kelantan hindu epic deriving helang burung camar laut garuda jentayu source identity inspiration heavily owed fact malayalised hindu literature highly celebrated period tale hikayat maharaja wana ramayana isma dewa perkerma raja often transmitted form malay theater wayang kulit thus become norm kelantanese malay society based coatalen despite design name hindu mythology adopted bird art doesnt necessary bear hindu religious syncretism instead adoption solely cosmetic factor added would take three month build petala bird last bird built long end world war ii solely constructed display upon request national museum malaysia tandu named pertala indra maha sakti completed constructed son one assistant craftsman built earlier royal bird mohamed noor bin daud weh burong assisted awang bin sulong supervision ismail bakti resurrected bird far dwarfed comparison predecessor nonetheless fine detail woodcraft remains sole surviving kelantanese artist expertise largely emulated based artisan childhood memory helping father constructing bird sculpture stored kelantan heritage trust kota bharu petala indra burung petala indra stand foot tall constructed tengku yunus yearold third son crown prince raja zainal abidin reid photographer strait time annual kelantan noted several large tree kota bharu removed earlier order maneuver colossal monument celebration painted foot square wooded pavilion erected colossal bird replica holding singgorastyled roof pair ornamental crest carved naga motif attached onto bargeboard roof tier pavilion carry passenger inside many prominent woodcarver involved project including encik ismail head artisan petala indra encik long royal sculptor neighbouring kingdom besut petalawati smaller pair tandu petala similar pavilionstyled platform tier hipped roof crest beak replica painted gold fang made elephant tusk bird seen biting venomous snake known ular naga bora coiled around bird neck eye made precious stone bird main body decorated golden tinsel wrap fur head neck tailored various velvet silk feather wing tail cast various glossy paper based hue rainbow bird shiny stood underneath ray sun two conflicting account identity bird based character assemble hikayat isma dewa many believed processional cart personification sarung dewa purba raksasa gigantic bird epic raja isma dewa local kelantanese malay lore supported incorporation crowned white monkey stood beneath burung petala wati white monkey character hikayat isma dewa companion heroic character function monkey persuade young prince brave favourite hero saga hikayat mahabharata another view trace mythical garuda particularly account mahabharata act bird eating serpent philosophical symbolism destroying evil based understanding instead isma dewa main idol version vishnu notion largely observed haji mubin sheppard day parade highlight month long festival carnival lavishly commenced palatial gate kelantan continued throughout main avenue kota bharu area known batu peringatan padang bank passing various government complex residence prominent member kelantanese nobility grand parade divided part performance held moving stage member malay regiment accompanying chariot begin unit speared men imperial court wore black followed candlestick bearer wearing red uniform unit rifleman would fire celebratory gunshot procession behind military contingent group female palatial maid wearing yellow shoulder cloth holding pedestrial tray ritualistic yellow glutinous rice known nasi semangat strengthen prince spirit circumcision maiden followed royal guard armed weaponry keris sword back group maiden carrying plethora royal insignia ceremonial box handheld fan silver container royal betel box incense burner silver water container multitude item imperial regalia following royal entourage open platform malay orchestra staged menora mak yong performance closed platform behind occupied court dancer elegantly posed classical asyik joget costume however contrast preceding menora makyong performer openly dance gala behind court dancer wayang kulit performance silat troop towering bird came performance climax imperial cavalcade ferried prince together two younger brother senior religious cleric british resident time prince seen donned richly woven ceremonial attire made silk wore fine gold jewelry keris nicely tucked around waist chariot mobilised hundred men reciting islamic prayer selawat men individually selected village headman respected kampung throughout kingdom entourage end platform percussion great kelantan drum known rebana besar trailing behind men dozen son noble family kelantan older relative prince attending usher circumcision carnival burung petala indra last kind staged kelantan following consultation local kelantanese ulema firmly advised element deviation islamic teaching present parade hence following verdict bird destroyed authority tradition however still survived although verge extinction across border pattani thailand celebrated thai malay community form burong gagak suro thai บุหรงฆาเฆาะซูรอ burong kakosuro albeit usually celebrated smaller scale compared historical predecessor