From mourning chant to song and dance Life and Times, 2 Edition

(STF) - Introduced by Indian Muslim settlers in Penang, Boria used to be a form of mourning for the heroic death of the Prophet's grandson during Muharram. The night version of the Boria continued. Each year as many as 50 to 60 groups put up performances. They were apparently classified under f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNew Straits times
Main Author Prof. Khoo Kay Kim
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Kuala Lumpur The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad 10.07.2000
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Summary:(STF) - Introduced by Indian Muslim settlers in Penang, Boria used to be a form of mourning for the heroic death of the Prophet's grandson during Muharram. The night version of the Boria continued. Each year as many as 50 to 60 groups put up performances. They were apparently classified under four categories (in terms of chronological development): the tropical songsters, the troops, the play actors, and the keroncong parties. The tropical songsters provided the comic titbits based on known incidents. Any happening out of the ordinary - modern fashions in clothing or hair- style, for example, would form the theme of a song. By the 1930s, Boria was no more than an annual carnival performed during New Year but without any reference to the tragedy of Muharram. Mats and rags were replaced by silks and velvets; powder and make-up took the place of dust and ashes.