Rituals by 7 ethnic groups to appease the spirits of Mt Kinabalu tomorrow

Kota Kinabalu: An even bigger group of Bobolian, Bobohizan and Tantagas, in fact more than 40 of them, will be converging at the Kiram's Village Cabin in Mesilou, Kundasang on Friday for elaborate monolob and monogit ceremonies to appease the spirits of Mount Kinabalu.The large coven of traditional priests and priestesses, representing seven different ethnic groups, will see the ancient ceremonies relived during the three-day ceremonies, which would see seven fowls, three goats and a pig sacrificed.

Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Executive Secretary Benedict Topin said the seven ethnic groups are the Tindal of Kota Belud, Togilung and Kimaragang of Kota Marudu, Tombonuo of Pitas, Lotud of Tuaran and Kadazans of Papar and Kimanis.

"Of course, the bobolian in Ranau had conducted their ceremonies but different ethnic groups have different ways of looking at this and different ways of dealing with it. This is because their gimbaran (familiar spirits) are different and their methods are different," he said.

According to the schedule, the coven will arrive at Friday noon and will commence the momurinait (chanting) at 2pm before starting the sacrifice of six chicken and one goat at around 3pm, followed by presentation to the spirits by Kota Belud Tindarama Bobolian.

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On the second day, they will start another important ceremony to initiate communication with Aki Nabalu, followed by the sacrifice of two goats.

On the final day, a monogit ceremony will be conducted and a covenant of peace will put into place between the bobolian, bobohizan and tantagas representing the people and the Aki Nabalu.

Two weeks ago, seven bobolian in Ranau oversaw the biggest ever animal sacrifice where seven buffaloes were slaughtered before declaring a day of atonement for the whole Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community following the monolob and monogit ritual in Mamut, Ranau.

The rituals were considered sufficient by the bobolian in their attempts to calm the spirits of Kinabalu and were carried out on behalf of the whole world (Sabah).

Just less than a month ago, the Tantagas of the Lotud community in Tuaran have also conducted their own unique rituals called monolibabow and tumabur, although no major sacrifice was done since none was required of them.

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The series of monolob and monogit rituals were carried out after photos showing ten foreign tourists who stripped on the mountain went viral on social media, inciting wrath among Sabahans who considered the mountain sacred.

A destructive earthquake that claimed 18 lives a week later further infuriated the people to the point of blaming the strippers for the natural disaster.

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