MUKAH – The traditional lion “eye dotting” ceremony continues to stand as a strong symbol of unity and harmony among Mukah’s multi-racial community, said Tellian State Assemblyman Royston Valentine.
He said this during the 2026 New Lion Dance Tradition Eye Dotting Ceremony held at Pek Gong Mukah along Jalan Boyan on Friday. The event was organised by the Setia Raja Mukah Medan Dragon and Lion Dance Club in conjunction with the upcoming 2026 Chinese New Year celebration and drew participation from people of various backgrounds and age groups.
Royston described the eye dotting ceremony, also known as the opening of the eyes ritual, as an important cultural practice within the Chinese community. He explained that the ritual is performed to “revive” and bless a new lion costume before it is officially used in lion dance performances.
According to him, the ceremony symbolises the awakening of the lion from a state of rest, giving it life, spirit and meaning. The ritual is believed to bring protection, positive energy and good fortune not only to performers but also to the wider community.
He further explained that the ceremony begins with the dotting of red ink on the lion’s eyes, symbolising its ability to see. This is followed by the ears so the lion can hear the rhythm of the drums, and then the mouth and nose to allow it to sense and feel its surroundings. The body and legs are also dotted to represent strength, balance and energy, enabling the lion to perform with power and confidence.
Royston said that according to traditional belief, a lion costume without the eye dotting ritual is merely an object without a soul or spiritual significance. He added that a total of nine lion costumes were blessed during the ceremony, all of which were donated by companies, individuals and members of the public.
“This reflects strong community support for preserving the art of lion and dragon dance, which has been practiced for more than a century,” he said when met by the media.
He also praised the Chinese community in Mukah for their active role in preserving cultural heritage and organising traditional activities that promote mutual respect and harmony. He noted that the involvement of youths from different ethnic groups, including Melanau, Iban and Malay participants, clearly shows that cultural arts can unite people beyond racial and cultural differences.
Also present at the ceremony were Medan Setia Raja Mukah Dragon and Lion Dance Club chairman Ho Ing Siong, community leaders and local residents.
