"Tabuik" In Pariaman City, West Sumatera

'Tabuik' is the local manifestation of the Shi'a Muslim Remembrance of Muharram among the Minangkabau people in the coastal regions of West Sumatra, Indonesia, particularly in the city of Pariaman. The festival includes reenactments of the Battle of Karbala, and the playing of tassa and dhol drums. ''Tabuik'' is also the term used to refer to the high funeral biers carried around during remembrance procession.


Although originally a Shi'a festival, nowadays most inhabitants of Pariaman and other area's where similar ''Tabuik''-festivals are held, are mainly Sunni Muslims.
The remembrance is referred to as ''Tabut'' in Indonesian.

''Tabuik'' is made from bamboo, rattan and paper. During the week of ''Tabuik'' many activities are held including kite races, traditional plays such as ''Tari Piring'' and traditional plays. THe remembrance draws a large crowd including dignitaries such as the provincial governor, to see ''Tabuik'' in the morning before it is slowly taken to the beach. At noon, before it is thrown into the sea, there is a lot of activity with ''Tabuik''. After they are thrown into the sea many people go swimming looking for 'memories' of the ''Tabuik'' to keep.
A tabuik monument in the center of Pariaman

The practice of throwing a ''tabuik'' into the sea has taken place every year in Pariaman on the 10th of Muharram since 1831[1]. The practice was introduced to the region by Shi'ite Muslim ''sepoy'' troops from India who were stationed and later settled there during the British Raj.

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