Traditional Uses

Ritual of Life
Throughout Malaysia ceremonies are held to mark each important stage of the journey through life. Religious observances include ritual offerings, reading and recitations from the Holy Quran and visits to mosques to pray. At these events, the participants are always beautifully attired in their best raiment. Special sashes, head cloths and sarongs are worn.

At the main event, ceremonial textiles are used or prominently displayed. Formal textile exchanges are an important aspect of many rites of passages. In traditional settings, textiles are at one time permeated all stages of the life cycle from conception to death.

In some Muslim societies, a child’s first haircut is an important ceremonial event. The child, blanketed with several layers of songket, is passed around as his hair is snipped off by visitors. When eleven to twelve years old, Muslim boys undergo a circumcision operation performed by a local doctor, the boys, dressed in their best clothes are taken to the house by male relatives where there is usually a bed or bench covered with special cloth and beautifully patterned Songket cushions.

It was said that by the time a girl was of marriageable age, she was a proficient weaver. With her mother’s help, she would weave a set of clothes for her dowry which would include a full set of ceremonial textiles for herself and possibly some for her future groom. Songket has always been a key role in marriage negotiations. In an engagement ceremony, songket is given to the man among other gifts to be used for the actual marriage ceremony. On the auspicious day the bride and groom, as ‘king and queen’ for the day, usually dress in a full Songket costume.

Decorative Embellishment
Songket made into decorative furnishing are often used for ceremonial occasions. The bedspread is made from two long songket joined lengthwise along the warp. It is not only used for the bridal chamber but also as wall hanging around the wedding dais. In addition it is sometimes used as a covering for the coffin during Muslim funeral ceremony.Other decorative items made of songket are decorative cloth mats of honor such as kain ciur, panca, peterena, tikar nikah and sejadah. The songket is also woven into rectangular shape complete with border frame to be used as table cloth and placemats.