Water rituals and the symbolic performance of kingship in Malay Royal celebrations in Malaysia

The case of the Istiadat Siram Tabal

Bibliographic Data

ID22425802
AuthorsMohd Firdaus Abdullah (0000-0002-9111-1755, National University of Malaysia, corresponding author), Arba’iyah Mohd Noor (University of Malaya), Arba'Iyah Mohd Noor (0000-0002-4538-0946, University of Malaya)
Year2026
Volume30
Issue3
Pages1-17
Publication date2026-07-15
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal for Cultural Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1479-7585 • E-ISSN: 1740-1666
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14797585.2026.2703197
OpenAlexW7168345382
LanguageEN
References cited25

The present paper posits that the utilisation of water in the sultanate’s annual coronation ritual in Malaysia embodies a multifaceted interplay of holy symbolism, cultural legacy, and post-colonial power dynamics. Through customs like Istiadat Siram Tabal (a royal ablution consecration ceremony), Sultans are depicted not just as traditional rulers, but also as sacred bodies through which sovereignty, continuity, and collective legitimacy are ritually performed. We argue that, in the absence of absolute executive authority, the institution of the sultanate strengthens its position through ritual aesthetics that combines sacred, visual, and narrative historical elements. In this context, water becomes a subtle political language where governance is legalised not only through laws but also through bodily rituals, purification symbols, and public participation. Finally, we propose the need for further research into the role of natural elements, such as water, in state rituals and the formation of symbolic sovereignty in Southeast Asia. This article offers a re-reading of water rituals not only as cultural traditions but as sites of symbolic power that structure the relations between the people, state, and heritage in the post-colonial era.

Consecration · Coronation · Legitimacy · Monarchy · Power (physics) · Sovereignty · State (computer science) · Symbolic power · The Symbolic · Asian Studies and History · Cultural and Religious Practices in Indonesia · Socioeconomic Development in Asia

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