When the occasion calls for it, the Malays, Chinese and Indians in Malaysia would resort to taking Floral Baths or Mandi Bunga. I guess the idea of taking Floral baths is so much part of our culture that it would most probably be the first ritual that comes to mind if one were to have a spell of bad luck or when one needs to find a soul mate.
The question is, "Are such baths effective?" Do they bring about the desired results?" "Is it more a case of superstitions?" "Could there be something magical or spiritual connected to the ritual?"
Though such questions may play in ones mind and whatever may result from partaking in the Mandi Bunga Ritual, it is a Malaysian tradition and also a habit that has been practised by generations in this country.
Below is an excerpt of a Malay Mandi Bunga Ritual for a maiden
A girl seeking a partner in marriage partakes in a floral bathing ceremony in the hope of catching a good and desirable husband. A bomoh (Malay medicine man or shaman) usually oversees such a ceremony. He begins by asking the maiden to carefully prepare the required ingredients that will be mixed with the bathwater. These ingredients are usually plant based and include different types of fragrant flowers, coconut leaves, betel leaves, betel nuts, limau purut (Citrus hystrix) and akar sintok (Cinnamomum sintok BI.). They are to be used together with other materials which include ibu lilin (wax), benang mentah (unprocessed thread), chalk and bedak sejuk (face powder made from rice grains).
The ceremony begins with the bomoh weaving four strands of coconut leaves into a shape. Then the wax is melted with the thread used as a wick. When that has been prepared and put aside, eight pieces of limau purut (cut from four fruits), some limau purut leaves, seven types of flowers, akar sintok, four betel leaves rubbed with a little chalk, and some ripe betel are kneaded thoroughly and placed in a special vessel filled with water. The bomoh then recites an incantation over the prepared ingredients while sprinkling grains of uncooked glutinous rice around the maiden.
After the incantation has been recited, the bomoh bathes the girl with the prepared liquid. (It should be mentioned here that the maiden is usually dressed in a sarong while the bathwater is poured over her, and the entire ceremony is conducted with a selected audience).
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Other than being used by maidens in the hope of getting husbands, the floral bath or Mandi Bunga is also believed to help protect a person from danger, calamity and other forms of bad luck that might befall him or her. One of the most popular uses of the Mandi Bunga is to help people to get rid of bad luck or Buang Sial. Taking a floral bath also helps to refresh the body and mind. It is also good for the skin as well. Yeah, besides cleansing the body and soul, one also ends up smelling better after the bath.
The Chinese would take Floral baths to clear their bodies of negative Qi or energies. They believe that the energy, scent and healing properties of the flowers, fruits, herbs and salts used in the bath will help to clear the body of negative Qi. Sometimes, one session of Floral bath might not be enough. The person might need to take a few such baths to get rid of the bad Qi and rebalance the energy in the body. The Floral baths are supposed to heal the body, get rid of bad vibes and purify the body and soul. When one is undergoing the Mandi Bunga Ritual, it is best not to eat any beef, pork or consume alcohol during the duration to get the maximum effect.
Below are some reasons why people go for Mandi Bunga:
- For Good Luck
- To break Curse or Spell
- To get back a lost love
- For Protection
- To get rid of bad luck
- To get rid of negative Qi
- To calm and uplift the spirit
- To attract a husband/wife
- To enhance inner glow and natural beauty
- To enhance or repair ones aura.
- To improve confidence.
- to give a sense of calm.
The number of flowers used for the Mandi bunga are either 3, 5 or 7. The Chinese usually use 7 flowers of different colours. Also, the flowers used should not have any thorns. For the Malays, the most commonly used flowers are the fragrant ones like roses, jasmine (melur), orange and white chempaka (Michelia champaca), bunga ylang-ylang (kenanga) and bunga kesidang (vallaris glabra). Kaffir lime (citrus hystrix) or limau purut is added for purification and to get rid of bad luck.
So after reading what I have written about the benefits of Herbal Baths, are you game for a session of Mandi Bunga?
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