Majlis Berendoi, A Traditional Malay Baby Welcoming Ceremony: Hair Cutting

The baby resting before the start of the event.

A lock of the hair being cut by the baby's relative.

The oil can be seen on the baby's head. This will prevent the hair from flying around.

The proud father cutting his baby's hair.

Another relative snipping away...

Majlis Berendoi, A Traditional Malay Baby Welcoming Ceremony: Marhaban Group

The  mother of the baby anxiously waiting for the ceremony to start.

Arrival of the marhaban group.

The indoor scene. Most of the guest were outdoor feasting on the food provided by the host.

Warming up...

Quranic recitatons...

A marhaban group is a collection of people that sing traditional islamic songs and also quranic recitals. They perform usually at ceremonies of weddings, welcomings and others.

Majlis Berendoi, A Traditional Malay Baby Welcoming Ceremony

The baby swing lavishly decorated.

An empty coconut filled with water, hair oil and scissors are the necessities. The coconut is for collecting hair and the oil will prevent the hair from flying around.

The baby of the ceremony resting with her relatives.

Excitement in waiting for the start of the event.

Berendoi is a malay word, meaning to lull in English. The Majlis Berendoi is a welcoming ceremony for a newborn baby. This celebration is held mostly in the state of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak in Malaysia. The event  here was photographed at Kampung Padang Pusing, Sungai Tiang, Kedah. 

During this event, there will be traditional songs and quranic readings filling the atmosphere. Bits of the baby's hair are cut by the family member's and relatives. In the end, the baby's head will be shaved.