CNY guests treated to shadow puppet play, Mak Yong performances

KOTA BARU: The Chinese New Year celebrations are normally associated with lion dance performances, but a Chinese family in Kok Lanas welcomed guests with shadow puppet play (wayang kulit) and Mak Yong songs instead.

The majority of the Chinese community in Kok Lanas are familiar with Kang Boon Ann, 51, and his family. Kang can play traditional musical instruments well and he is a tok dalang (shadow puppet master) himself.

The guests were entertained with more than 10 songs from the wayang kulit and Mak Yong performances by Kang’s group called Cindayu, a name to represent the Chinese, Indian and Malay communities.

What’s more interesting is that Kang’s son, Kang Xiau Ren, 21, played the flute, accompanied by other musicians playing an assortment of drums comprising the gedumbak, geduk, gong and kesi.

Kang said the gathering was held to celebrate his artiste friends who came from all parts of the district to spend Chinese New Year together.

“The last gathering was held three years ago and I am doing it again because there are many who are back home.

“On any other day, it’s quite difficult to meet and say hello, so I am using this opportunity to get together,” he said here yesterday.

The multiracial crowd was served nasi kerabu and laksa Siam.

Kang said traditional art was not only enjoyed by the Malays, but the Chinese as well.

Some of them are good as tok dalang, tukang karut dikir barat, and other forms of arts.

“Nevertheless, lately, we are getting fewer invitations to perform, probably due to the fact that many are no longer interested in traditional music.”