PORTUGUESE Settlement residents are shocked that the Branyu Rudiya, part of the Intrudu festival, has been scrapped for good as it is regarded as non-traditional.

The residents discovered this when the annual Intrudu held recently proceeded without the popular Branyu Rudiya, a colourful evening dance procession.

The Branyu Rudiya is led by elderly singers and musicians around the 75-year-old heritage settlement. As it proceeds, more and more young and elderly residents follow the dance troupe and head for the open air stage near the square where they dance till midnight.

The residents regard the Branyu Rudiya as the most important traditional event of the unique Intrudu festival. Other activities of the day include water-splashing among the residents, a fancy dress football match and selling of traditional cakes.

The Intrudu is celebrated by the Portuguese people worldwide and marks the last day of enjoyment before the start of Lent. In Malaysia, it has been practised since 1511 when the Portuguese captured Malacca.

Regedor (headman) Peter Gomes, 52, says the Branyo Rudiya was cancelled this year and will no longer be part of the festival. He firmly believes that it is a non-traditional event.

The aim of the dance procession is to inform and draw out residents from their homes to the designated dance area. Since everyone is aware where to gather, it is irrelevant to continue with the practice, claims Gomes, regedor since 1998.

Regedor panel member George Paul Overaee, 79, adds that another reason for the cancellation was the lack of participation by senior citizens.

However, some past participants have a different story to tell. Among them is singing legend, Noel Felix, 77, who maintains that the Branyu Rudiya is definitely a traditional affair as it has been observed for years. Moreover it seems, the Intrudu is incomplete without the traditional dance.

Felix says senior citizens are ever willing to participate and were never consulted or informed of the cancellation.

Resident Cyparino Francis, 57, believes that whether traditional or otherwise, what has been practised should not be discontinued. Many agree with him.

Malacca Portuguese-Eurasian Asso-ciation president Michael Singho, 54, organiser of the Intrudu in mid-90s argues it is wrong to ignore the Branyo Rudiya and is willing to organise the whole festival if invited.

Residents recollect with sadness that the Intrudu was abandoned for 40 years from 1955 and was revived only in 1995 through the hard work of the late Christabel Hendricks. Since then it has been an annual affair, well-organised and well-participated in by villagers and tourists.

Senior citizens remember, too, that the popular weekend cultural dances were stopped in 2004 as the regedor panel could not pay the dancers. Now that the Branyo Rudiya has disappeared, they fear that cultural activities may be declining slowly and should be checked urgently.

So how do we decide which festival or event is traditional and which is not? The best solution would be to form a national Portuguese-Eurasian cultural committee to discuss, decide and safeguard Portuguese culture and traditions that are being practised. This needs some good helping hands, otherwise more confusion may creep in.

Source: The Sun – March 3, 2010