A pilgrimage within the traditional Ceremonies of Western Java : Flixabay

A series of traditional West Javanese ceremonies, from religion to birth

West Java is an area where indigenous wealth is preserved. One of them is the traditional Ceremony of West Javanese. Traditional ceremonies owned by the province are very diverse. Starting with religion, agriculture, birth and others. The cultural heritage has been preserved by the community so far.

As a resident of West Java, it is obligatory to participate in the preservation of traditional ceremonies. However, for the people of other provinces, the study of western Java’s cultural heritage is a form of love for the motherland.  Cultural heritage can also be used as an educational tourist destination.

Cultural tourism can not only educate the Indonesian people,  butalso attract  foreign tourists. Through tourism, culture can be presented to everyone in the world. The traditional ceremony is expected to be known by the wider community in order to  preserve it.

West Java Traditional Ceremony Bertema Religi

The number one  traditional ceremony that contains religious elements is shura porridge. This activity is not at all related     to the Day of Ashur, which is generally referred to as the day of death   of one of the Islamic figures, Hussein. The grandson of the Prophet Muhammad Saw died  in Karbala.

The residents who held the traditional West Javanese ceremony with religious nuances  were the Cilacap  community.  The tradition of “ISlam” is often associated with one of the Prophets, more precisely with Noah. In addition, he is associated with  Nyai Pohaci Sanghyang Sri who is the goddess  of fertility in Javanese belief.

The tradition is maintained outside the home of one of  the members of the community is considered capable of m enyelakannya.   The annya pelax can also be located on the perimeter of a river, a field or a specific place desired by the inhabitants.   These activities include many completenesses such as offerings, art, sacred objects to tools for making porridge.

The next Javanese traditional ceremony with a religious theme is ngalungsur pusaka.  A religious ceremony presided over byjuru Kunzi is more often called kuncen. In this tradition, the objects of the Holy Sunan Rohmat  heritage  were also  introduced. The property is still guarded by local  residents.

In a series of ceremonial processes, participants can see the process of bathing items of inheritance. Participants can recognize what and look like the legacy of Sunan Rohmat Judges heritage in their field. These inheritance objects are a symbol of Sunan Rohmat Kudus’ struggle when  Islam spreads.

A pilgrimage within the traditional Ceremonies of Western Java

The first traditional ceremony in the form of pilgrimages is rebo wekasan.   The pilgrimage was generally organised by residents around the Dražat River, Cirbona. The activity is a visit to The Tomb of Sunan Kaliaga. The implementation time is Wednesday, the last Sunday of the month of Shafar according to the Hijri calendar.

Wednesday’s election in the last week of the month of Shafar has a certain meaning. The selection was based onthe notion that it was the best day to eliminate the mallet.   The power that accompanies the rebo wekasan is a rowing race. In general, the competition is held after the end of the traditional ceremony.

The next Javanese traditionalpilgrimage-themed ceremony is ngunjung or munjung. The name of this tradition is  the origin of the word  kunjung,  which  is to make  a pilgrimage and pray  at the resting place of ancestors.   This tradition symbolizes the gratitude  of residents for the services received so far.

The inhabitants of Indramaju, Cyrebon, and the surrounding  area generally hold these  traditions in the tombs of ancestors and religious figures who are revered or considered sacred. The purpose of tradition, of course, is to seek the salvation of life.   Thanksgiving tradition sits mainly after harvesting rice.

In this tradition, wayang kulit performances and skits are accompanied by regional art. In addition, the community also presents a multitude of special  culinary arts  such as tumpeng rice and other types of traditional culinary cooking as recommended.

A Form of Gratitude for God’s Mercy through West Java Traditional Ceremonies

In addition to religious  themes,  various traditional ceremonies  are held as a form  of gratitude for the abundance of grace in earning a life from nature. There are all kinds of social jobs in earning a living in nature, from agriculture to going to the sea.  The community then carried out the tradition to thank nature.

The first traditional ceremony on the theme was  a sea feast.   The location of the tradition is in  Pangandaran Ciamis and  Pelabuhan Rat, Sukabumi. In addition, it is carried out in various coastal areas of West Java. In a ragaksanaannya, fishermen who   carried offers in feathersh in previously were dipercantik with various ornaments.

One of the offerings in the tradition  is  a buffalo head wrapped in white cloth. This offer was submerged in the sea as a symbol of the offer to the guardians of the sea and the refusal of the host .  The tradition is held every year as a form of gratitude and hope for salvation when looking for food at sea.

The traditional Ceremony of West Javanese as a form of gratitude for the creator’s next service is ngalaksa. Different from the sea parties often held by anglers, ngalaksa is organized by farmers.  This tradition is usually carried out by residents of  the Ranca Kalong, Sumedang area.

The process of implementing ngalaks is to transport rice into  a grenade using rengkong (long bamboo with holes mainly used to carry rice). The festival is in June. An interesting point of tradition  is the sound of Rengkong music swinging while walking.

Ngalaxes has the meaning of the term syukur inhabitants for the success of harvesting in agriculture.   Society never forgets God’s role in life’s success. After receiving services during harvest, the community always performs ngalaxies as a form of gratitude to the creator.

A dat Ceremony West Java Wedding Tradition Until Pregnancy

West Java has many traditional ceremonies. In fact, there is not just one ceremony at weddings.   Among the ceremonies at the wedding is  neundeun talk. The tradition is to visit male parents to female parents in the context of friendship and convey the intention to apply.

After that, ngalamar was conducted, which is a tradition in the form of visits by male parents to ask a woman about a woman. In tradition, wedding plans are designed for the bride and groom. Then a ceremony was carried out, more precisely the process of sending the future groom to the wife’s parents for marriage.

After a woman experiences a period of gestation, tingkepan is carried out.  The tradition  is carried out after the wife is 7 months pregnant with her child. Tingkepan from tingkep has a closed meaning. The point is that the future mother is forbidden to interfere with her husband within  40 days of giving birth.

The traditional Western Javanese tingkepan ceremony  is often filled  with reciting and bathing a pregnant mother. In this tradition, Rujak Kanistren is also presented, which is a breed consisting of 7   species or types. The mother will be bathed by the seven closest members of the family by pouring seven flower waters.

In the seventh flush, an eel is inserted until it touches the mother’s stomach. Tradition aims to hope for the safety of the baby in the womb.   In addition, it is  about  maintaining the health of the mother by reducing part of the work because  the period of pregnancy is large.

West Java has a variety of traditions that are still maintained and preserved by the local community. Almost every aspect of life is marked by tradition, from marriage, pregnancy, attempts to earn a living to making  pilgrimages in honor of ancestors.  Shura porridge, rebo wekasan and sea feasts are some examples of the traditional uzakar of West Javana.

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