Ketupat Weaving Instructions

"Kampung" is the Malay word for "village". Literary licence is taken here in the use of the term "kampung" in its euphemistic sense to describe and encompass the traditional and village crafts of the indigenous people in Singapore and Malaysia and Indonesia.

This section records some of the crafts, activities and customs associated with the "sarong culture" of these people who inhabit the larger Malay archipelego of the Southeast Asian region.

It is also the intention here to preserve a sampling of the simple crafts of these people by collating instructional data so that these cultural heritage can be passed on to present and future generations.

As it is the way with culture, they grow and evolve - so has the Malay culture, for instance in the area of music - with the advent of the Zikir Barat and in fashion - with the creation of the Baju Kurung Moden and changes in Batik motifs and hues. There is also Lat's cartoons which have become a medium of communication on typical aspects of Kampong and contemporary life in Malaysia.

As undercurrents to these movements and evolutions, bonds of family and kin, friendship and country remain core values. Somewhat lost in the passing years are the influences of the Adat Perpateh (matriarchal) practices which dominated the lives of the Malays on the west coast states, particularly Melaka of the early Malay Peninsular.

As the races inter-mingle, part of the so called "sarong culture" had been adopted by the Straits-born Chinese of Malaysia and Singapore who speak not only the lingo (patua) of the Malays, but also cook some of the Malay dishes (now distinctly adapted as Peranakan cuisine.) The Straits-born Chinese womenfolk also wear the sarong and Baju Kebaya of the Malays (but in Swiss Voille and with beautiful hand embroidaries) as their traditional garb.

Religious practices are not within the ambit of this presentation.

Contents Summary

1. Ketupat Weaving -