Pieces of history about mourning

I always like to read bits of history especially when its written by a certain person in my college mailing list. Some facts may not be known because it is not normally found in history books. He did mention in his writing that ..

"Much of the tradition/custom is not generally followed save those that have to attend the formal ceremonies, owing to lack of knowledge or concern or interest or just non-conformists for various reasons."

I honestly feel that I should reproduce it here, I hope he won't mind. This is in response to a question;

"Would like to know what is the white band around the songkok for and would one be refused entry if such white band is not donned."

I do not think you were in KK when the late S Yusuf Gahafarullah expired in 1962,about an annum post the demise of his consort RPTaayah in 1961. Perhaps you were around at the time of the demise of the last Rajabendahara of Perak, whose house was along Jalan Setesen near and opposite that China school close to theRlyStation. He passed away circa 1957 about a year before the late Sultan Badli Shah of Kedah in 1958.

The mourning for RajaBendahara was prescribed for 7 days. I remember being pulled up for not donning the white ribbon during evening prep hours. Yes a black armband on the left upper arm or a white band on a songkok was the order.I am quite sure Nana's father CCIsmail had to wear the black armband during the 14-daymourning for the late KingGeorge VI in 1952 as loyal servants of His Majesty's govt of Penang. But despite the adat and adab rule of the Lembaga Perak darul Ridzuan, during the funeral proper RP Taayah no black band nor white band were used by Kolet boys preceding the funeral parade from IstanaIskandariah to Royal Mausoleum at Mt Chandan.

Still on topic of toha/belasungkawa/ mourning/ kabung, Kelantanese who abide by the custom are supposed to cover their kopiah tops with a white kerchief while old Perakian custom stipulated a white headkerchief (tengkolok) now made substitutable with black songkok/kopiah, complete with all-black baju/seluar/ samping. Kedah's traditional form of mourning was/is black baju/seluar with white/offwhite plain samping but for courtiers who do not don samping they wear tetampan (kainsebai) or selempang (sashes) of white.

Of course those unable to are expected to wear simplest dark/and/or white dress, thus not manifesting gaeity.Much of the tradition/custom is not generally followed save those that have to attend the formal ceremonies, owing to lack of knowledge or concern or interest or just non-conformists for various reasons.

I hv sent photograph showing Kolet SJAB and Kolet boys preceding the funeral procession of late RajaPerempuanTaayah without armbands or white ribbons.I am sending a photograph showing the royal hearse of then Regent of Kedah whose demise made way for Tunku Badishah to succeed him as Regent and later Sultan of Kedah. The picture explains the royal mourning attire during pre-war Kedah Darulaman. The Regent being taken to the Langgar (= RoyalMausoleum) was Tunku Muhammad.

Awat nak tahu pasal (Datuk) Seraja Imam ?

Saya sebut SerajaDiraja sbg kenderaan Perusungan Jenazah Raja-raja khasnya di Perak. Ianya serupalah 'MeruMas' tang KhrungthefMahanakor n Siam.Tang Kedah Seraja Imam adalah satu gelaran Orgbesar pd zaman Sultan Mahmud Shah (1505-47).Lani takdak kut dah gelaran dmkn. Ttp ada gelaran Datuk Seraja Setia yg mungkin berilhamkangelaran lama itu. Disebutkan bhw Datuk Seraja Imam wujud seera dgn seolah mualim bernama Sharif Azlan org Arabyang menikahkan Cik Tempawan. Kalu tak silap. Sila cuba tengok kalu-kalu ada diperihalkan dmkndlm Salsilah Nenggeri Kedah karangan / susunan TukKeraniArshad (KeraniRosiaRaja aka SUS lani).