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.

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