12/04/2026
THE HISTORICAL SITE OF THE BORIA AT THE ASHURKHANA, JALAN MASJID, 1820’s.
The BORIA was first performed by the Jawi Peranakan, Malays and Indian Muslims at Jalan Masjid, within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the former enclave of the ASHURKHANA (LOT 664 and 665) adjoining the Muslim cemetery (Lot 663) built in the 1820’s.
The first patron of the BORIA was Shaik Natter (Natterji) Sahib, a merchant, land agent and philanthropist. He was a Jemadar, a title equivalent to an overseer of Sepoys soldiers and this explains the early role of the Sepoys in the street processions of the BORIA.
Shaik Eusoffe Shaik Latiff, the grandson of Shaik Natter Sahib inherited his grand-father’s Anglo-Indian mansion, now the Yeng Keng Hotel, at Lebuh Chulia, restored in March 2009. Shaik Eusoffe’s will, dated 1890, reaffirms his grand-father’s earlier will, that the land parcel, behind his bungalow, will be endowed (wakaf; waqf) to the Penang Muslim community.
The bungalow was sold to the trustees of the Yin Han Pit Shu, a Cantonese district Association in 1897. It was transferred to the trustees of the Straits Chinese British Association in 1939.
The BORIA is of cultural significance in Penang since it is originally derived from the Persian Ta’ziyeh, an ancient theatre, evoking the 1680 AD, tragedy of the Karbala, a historical city, now located in modern-day Iraq. It was usually performed during Asyurah, on the tenth day of Muharram.
During the colonial era in Malaya, it functioned as parody or vaudeville theatre, with themes of mockery of British rule and currently, as a stage performance, with themes of morality, unity and multiculturalism.
The lane along the cemetery adjoining the ASHURKHANA, was referred to as ‘Back Lane- Ancient History’ in its title deed, dated 1822. The lane was used for prayer recitations (Yasin and Tahlil) and was the exit lane for BORIA and Muharram processions.
Prepared by The Penang Jawi Peranakan Heritage Society (PJPH) 2026.
