The "Turun Mandi" ceremony in Minangkabau

The ceremony of "Turun Mandi" (which literally means: Going down to bathe) is one tradition that still carried by some of Minangkabau traditional society till now. This is a form of initiation ceremonies of a child, where he introduced into the world outside the home.

In general, according to the customs of traditional communities, the baby child does not come out of his house before he held the "Turun Mandi" ceremony. The word "down" is closely related to forms of Minangkabau traditional house called Rumah Gadang, which is usually elevated. Implementation of the "Turun Mandi" ceremony time is usually determined based on the age of the babies who will be involved in the ceremony. Usually at the age of three months. However, sometimes the execution time of this ceremony is also determined based on the readiness and the agreement of family members.

On the "Turun Mandi" tradition, babies who are involved at, will be bathed by 'bako' (fathers family) of the baby, few strands of the babies hair is cut, then he will be also introduced to the taste of white rice, salt, sugar, and chili. Those things, just posted on his lips, so he could savor the flavor of spices and rice to be eaten later when adult.

Furthermore, for the Minangkabau people, this traditions also interpreted as a ceremony to introduce to a child about the real life, about a world that filled with different tastes and situations. Bitter, sweet, salty, spicy, is a symbol of reality in life that will be met.

There are also many of Minangkabau society member who believe that through "Turun Mandi" ceremony, the reality of life is being implanted into the babies subconscious, so he/she was ready to accept the reality of life and react sensibly early on when he had become an adult human.

READ MORE »

Tulak Bala: Send the disaster go away

The Tulak Bala (literally: refused reinforcements) is a ritual performed by Minangkabau traditional communities to drive something called bala (disasters), such as plague, drought or other natural disasters. Typically, this ritual conducted together by the population in certain villages, who feel that the disaster surrounded them. But it may also be implemented as a form of anticipation, so that disasters do not come to their villages.

In the execution of tulak bala ritual, village communities, or some person who was selected as a representative or can also volunteered, who became executor of ritual, usually will down around the village roads as they read the prayers of salvation, which is typically called "ratik". Often too, the reading of ratik is accompanied by the burning of incense, so that the incense smoke also scattered along the villages road. However, this incense burning, in the present day being abandoned, along with the knowledge advanced of the society.

In the past, the smoke of incense is believed could accelerate the arrival of the prayer. According to various sources, the involvement of incense smoke in the in traditional rituals, is a form of Islamic acculturation with the previous religion, ie Hinduism and Buddhism.

After performing the ritual around the village, the executor of ritual which consists of clergy, scholars and community leaders gathered again in a place that had been planned, mostly in the courtyard of a mosque or any house.

READ MORE »

"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.

READ MORE »