Datuk Keramat

The religious belief of the Datuk Keramat worship can be found in Malaysia, Singapore and along the Strait of Malacca.

They could have been an important leader, a renowned healer, a silat warrior, a landlord, a pious man or even a respectable dukun, pawang or bomoh.

With the arrival of Chinese immigrants who carried along with them the Confucian belief of Ancestral Worship and their respect for Nature, both practices converged and formed a new micro-culture as observed today.

Datuks, referred to in Chinese as Na Tuk Kong, is considered a localised form in worship of the spirit of the land, along with Tu Di Gong (Earth Deities).

Inside the shrine, a small, decorated statue or a piece of stone (wrapped in yellow cloth) is venerated, representing the datuk.

An important part of the praying ritual is also to burn some kemenyan (benzoin, made from a local gum tree, when burnt emit a smoky fragrant smell).

If their prayers are answered, the worshippers usually return to the shrine and make offerings or hold a kenduri (feast).