Ritual object

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265"478 - 481. Devil expellers - "Simpa"Round, plate sized discs woven from lontar leaves, with bamboo handles about one foot long; the discs themselves have rings of yellow and red cotton sewed to them. These discs are used for church festivities and for feasts as fans for the court ladies who are present. They are rotated quickly by their handles, calling Allah and the Prophet, which is known as "sikiri".  Besides their use at festivities at court, these fans are generally used by women to expel devils."Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 119-120). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller