According to W. William Conley in Maunati (2004), Dayak Kenyah people of East Kalimantan believe in three kinds of spirits (bali), i.e. the good, the bad, and the unpredictable. One of the good spirits that are worshipped in Dayak Kenyah`s religious ceremony is Bungan Malan Peselung Luan. It is Bungan Malan Peselung Luan that is generally believed to be the God.

In Dayak Kenyah belief, Bungan Malan Peselung Luan is a spirit from the outside world and is represented in a figure of a wise, powerful, beautiful long-eared woman (goddess). This is apparently where the ear-stretching tradition of Dayak Kenyah women roots from.

Aside from being worshipped in religious rites, Bungan Malan Peselung Luan is also an important figure in agriculture and in ceremonies for warding off misfortune, such as Erau Kepala ceremony (prayer before opening a land) and Ukaw Mending (prayer after a disaster).

(Tunggul Tauladan/ensi/01/01-2010)

Translation by Reza Daffi (terj/08/02-10)

Reference:

• Yekti Maunati, 2004. Identitas Dayak: Komodifikasi dan politik kebudayaan. Yogyakarta: LKIS.