Kuda Kepang - Javanese Horse Trance Dance in Singapore

This traditional Javanese Folk Art, Horse Trance Dance is called Kuda Kepang in Singapore and Malaysia. It's also known as Kuda Lumping in Indonesia.

Accompanied by a Gamelan Orchestra, the ritual begins with prayers and offerings. Male and female dancers get into a trance before riding their horses. Some eat glass shards, flowers, stomp on broken glass with their bare feet, peel coconuts with their teeth, lick burning coals etc while in trance. Handlers discipline them with whips and the riders seem to experience no pain. They are finally revived and walk away as though nothing has happened.

Kuda Kepang Dance is a Javanese tradition and is not related to Islam. It was practiced in Singapore during some Malay weddings but this has stopped. This is because The Islamic Religious Council, MUIS, see some of the practices as unislamic, advises Muslims not to support it and the Town Councils have banned this from all their premises.

This rain soaked performance was recorded at Punggol Ranch in Singapore during a combined event by 7 Kuda Kepang groups.

Update: Punggol Ranch has been torn down in early 2018 for redevelopment. The place doesn't exist anymore.

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