DURING the annual Puja Pantai festival on Pulau Carey, the Mah Meri of Sungai Judah come together to honour the ancestor spirits. In their traditional rituals, they express appreciation for the well-being provided by their lands and the sea.
I was privileged to be welcomed to share in the celebrations with this generous community over a number of years. The woman in this image has just received a blessing of rice flour paste on her palms and the backs of her hands during a community ritual in the village. The image reveals a very personal moment within the surrounding reverie – a moment of quiet reflection and steadfast trust in traditional beliefs. – The Vibes, December 12, 2021
Cheryl Hoffmann is an independent photographer
