From Ritual to Performance: A Semiotic Exploration of Ngayo Ritual in Bungan Religious Ceremonies

Emalisa Telun, Domian (2025) From Ritual to Performance: A Semiotic Exploration of Ngayo Ritual in Bungan Religious Ceremonies. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

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Abstract

This research aims to examine the traditional religious ceremonies of the Orang Ulu community through a semiotic analysis of symbolic elements, with a particular focus on the Kayan people, an ethnolinguistic subgroup residing in the Long Amo longhouse, Belaga, Sarawak. Emphasis on the Ngayo ritual, a central practice within the Bungan belief system, which came before the arrival of Christianity in the Orang Ulu community. Performed as an offering to the goddess Doh Tenangan, the Ngayo ritual seeks to ensure protection, prosperity, health, and the expulsion of misfortune and taboo. Despite the widespread influence of Christianity since 1948, a minority of households in Long Amo continue to practise the Bungan tradition. Data for this research were collected through ethnographic methods, including participant observation, documentation, and interviews with local informants. The analysis employs Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic theory in conjunction with Richard Schechner’s performance theory to interpret the symbolic and performative dimensions of the ritual. The findings highlight the resilience of indigenous belief systems and their evolving role within contemporary cultural contexts. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the traditional practices among the Kayan and underscores the importance of preserving ritual diversity within the broader Orang Ulu community. Keywords: Belaga, Bungan, Kayan, Long Amo, Orang Ulu, Semiotic

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