Ulek Mayang dancers perform for Wesak Day

PETALING JAYA: A Wesak Day greeting infused with the traditional Ulek Mayang elements to promote multiculturalism is what one can expect from moderation advocate Anas Zubedy’s latest video.

It features five women dancing and singing to the Ulek Mayang tune, wishing Malaysians a meaningful celebration.

Ulek Mayang is a classical Malay dance from Terengganu.

It is a dance usually performed to appease the spirits of the sea.

Anas, through his company Zubedy Idea House, created the video by incorporating the cultural elements into the Buddhist religious celebration.

“Every year, we think of a particular theme. This year, we decided that for all festive seasons, we will use our local traditional tunes.

“The theme should always find a way to promote diversity and inclusion in Malaysia,” he said.

Last year, the company came up with a Hari Raya video that used the Gong Xi Gong Xi tune played during Chinese New Year.

“The idea is to make people smile, be happy and connect their heart and mind,” he added.

Anas said the dancers in the video were his company staff.

The video, he said, was shot at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields.

For this coming Hari Raya festivity, Anas said he intended to incorporate boria, the Malay theatre play of Indian origin performed by comedians and musicians that began in Penang in the mid-1800s.

To watch the Wesak Day video greeting, visit the “Many Colours, One Race” Facebook or go to Anas’ Facebook page. -Star