'Monolob' ritual held for safety of Mount Kinabalu climbers

 By Olivia Miwil - December 2, 2020 @ 1:00pm

Mount Kinabalu Customary Holders council chairman Johnny Ghani led a group of the villagers performed about a 15-minute Monolob ritual at Timpohon gate. - Photo courtesy of Sabah Parks.

RANAU: As the stakeholders commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kinabalu Park being recognised as a World heritage site, the community here performed an annual ritual to ensure the safety of Mount Kinabalu climbers.

Around 8am, Mount Kinabalu Customary Holders council chairman Johnny Ghani led a group of villagers to perform a 15-minute 'Monolob' ritual at Timpohon gate, at the entrance of the Mount Kinabalu trail.

The live event was shared as part of a webinar dubbed "Celebration of Kinabalu Park being recognised as a World Heritage site".

"Around this month, we will perform the ritual every year as how it has been done since the community existed around the mountain.

"This time, it coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Kinabalu Park celebration today.

"But, the main objective of the ritual is to ensure the safety of climbers especially when it is reopens again," he told the New Straits Times.

Johnny said the ritual involved seven chickens preferably white colour, pinang, betel and tobacco leaves, a pinch of rice and salt, but most importantly "lamai" as a ritual tool.

The Kadazandusun community and natives believe the mountain is sacred and the souls of those who have passed away who go to Mount Kinabalu.

"By performing such a ritual, the 'guardian' of the mountain would not mistake those and ensure their safety.

"The community used to perform it for every trip whenever they go up the mountain, but now, we do it every year as there were daily climbing activities before this," he said.

Mount Kinabalu which allows 180 climbers a day, has been closed from Sept 25 until today.