6 generations of Dukut Maharajo descendants gather for Raya

 

Descendants of Dukut Maharajo, including Ahmad Faizal Azumu (centre), at the gathering today. (Bernama pic)

IPOH: It was a meaningful Raya for the descendants of Dukut Maharajo and Halijah Awang who gathered for a reunion involving six generations of the family in Kampung Kepayang here today.

Over 1,000 family members and relatives were present, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia.

Asyraaf Syahmie Hasri, 25, a university media relations officer, said the programme was aimed at gathering all family members, and this was the 20th time it had been held since 1980.

“This family gathering is usually held every two years to strengthen the bond among the various generations, and we have finally gathered now after four years (the event was last held in 2018) due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told reporters at the Dato’ Azumu Hall here.

He explained that the lineage began when Dukut came to Malaysia from Indonesia by boat in the late 1800s when he was 14 to earn a living. He sold traditional songkok from Indonesia and drinks in Chemor.

“Dukut was very pious, he often prayed at Masjid India in the Ipoh city centre, and that’s where he met Imam Awang, who suggested that Dukut should marry his daughter, Halijah.

“They were blessed with eight children, four boys and four girls, who formed the second generation of the family,” he said.

According to Asyraaf – who is from the fifth generation – the belief of the descendants of Dukut was that if a person travelled or migrated and did not achieve success, he could not return to his original place of dwelling.

He said although Dukut did not have an outstanding life, he was blessed with children and grandchildren, who did the family name proud.

Among them were Datuk Paduka Maharaja Lela (Grand Chamberlain of the Royal Family and Household), Azuan Effendy Zairakithnaini, youth and sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and several other successful individuals.

Also present at the event were Dukut and Halijah’s grandchildren Mukhtar Mahmud, 86, Abu Bakar Saidin, 90 and Abdul Bari Ahmad 74. They are part of the fourth generation and Faizal’s cousins.

Faizal and his wife Nomee Ashikin Radzi said they were grateful and happy to have had the opportunity to meet relatives from various generations, especially during Aidilfitri.

“I hope we can all continue to strengthen the bond among us, because, without our family, we are no one,” said Faizal. - FMT