Traditional Ceremony of Accera Kalompoang

Accera Kalompoang

Accera Kalompoang is a traditional ceremony to purify the heirlooms of Gowa Kingdom that are kept in the Balla Lompoa Museum. The core of the ceremony is allangiri kalompoang, purifying and weight measuring of salokoa (pure golden crown) which was made in the 14th century. This crown was worn for the first time by the King of Gowa, I Tumanurunga that was later symbolized in the inauguration of the next Kings of Gowa.

Some of royal objects that are purified are a rattan spear horse tail haired (panyanggaya barangan), an old iron chopping knife (lasippo), a diamond-gold Kris (tatarapang), a sacred weapon as the authorized king attribute (sudanga), a dragon-head gold bracelet (ponto janga-jangaya), a grandeur necklace (kolara),  pure gold earrings (bangkarak ta`roe), and a gold button (kancing gaukang). Besides those heirloom objects, there are imported objects that were kept and purified in the Balla Lompoa Museum as well, such as a necklace from Zulu Kingdom, Philippines, on the 16th century; three gold spears; a long berang manurung (chopping knife); a pure gold plate from British Kingdom in 1814 A.D; and a gold medal from Dutch.    

The washing of those royal objects uses the holly water begun by reading Al-Fatihah by the participants led by an Anrong Gurua (Great Guru). Special for the heirloom weapons like Kris, chopping knife, and spear sharp point, the washing is done differently, being rubbed by perfume, rattan slice, and lime. This ceremony is not only visited by the descendants of Gowa Kingdom, but also by public wearing Makasar traditional dress in that event.

This sacred traditional ceremony for the first time was hold by the first muslim of King of Gowa, I Mangngarrangi Daeng Mangrabbia Karaeng Lakiung Sultan Alauddin on  Jumadil Awal Ninth, 1051 A.D. or  September 20th,1605A.D. This ceremony had not become a tradition for King of Gowa XV, I Mannuntungi Daeng Mattola Karaeng Ujung Karaeng Lakiung Sultan Malikussaid Tumenanga Ri Papambatuna who customized this ceremony every 10 Zulhijjah, after shaala Eid Adha, although King of Gowa XIV had started it. Then, the XVI King of Gowa, I Mallombasi Daeng Mattawang Karaeng Bontomanggape Sultan Hasanuddin Tumenanga Ri Balla Pangkana who was titled the Cock from the east, inserted Islam elements in this ceremony, was sacrificed-animal slaughter.

Since that time, the next Kings of Gowa keep doing the Accera Kalompoang ceremony and recently is still done by their descendants. Since this ceremony needs a lot of expense, around tens millions rupiah, so, every family in Kerukunan Keluarga Salokoa pay this ceremony alternately.

The most interesting of the Accera Kalompoang ceremony is measuring the weight of salokoa (pure gold crown) which is 1,768 grams weight and 30 centimetres diameter, and adorned with 250 diamonds. The measurement is very important for the leader and the people of Gowa because it is the guidelines for human being in the future. The crown is never repaired by adding or subtracting the weight, but when the measurement is being done in this Accera Kalompoang ceremony, the crown weight is changeable, sometimes less and sometimes more. If the crown weight decreases, it is an indication that disaster will be in their country. Once upon a time, the crown weight decreased then landslide occurred in Bawakaraeng which took tens victims. In other hand, if the crown weight increase, it is an indicator of prosperity for Gowa people. One day, the crown that is less than 2 kilograms in weight could not be lifted by anyone, even 4 people who tried to lift it up, but they could not.

Logically, that extraordinary event is unbelievable. But, since it was proven, the descendants of the Kings of Gowa and public had convinced it firmly. Because of that, they support and keep the Accera Kalompoang sacred traditional ceremony continuously.

Where Accera Kalompoang Location?

Accera Kalompoang traditional ceremony is held annually after shaala Eid Al-Adha on  Zulhijjah 10th, Hijriyah, in the Balla Lompoa Museum, on Sultan Hasanudin Street number 48 Sungguminasa, Somba Opu Sub-district, Gowa District, South Sulawesi Province.  

From the central of Makasar City, Karebosi, to the Accera Kalompoang ceremony implementation in Balla Lompoa Museum can be reached by private or public transportations named pete-pete (minibus) for 20 minutes, its cost around Rp. 2,000.00 per person. The visitors who want to see the procession of Accera Kalompoang ceremony are gratis, but with requisite must wear Makasar traditional clothes. If there is a visitor does not wear it, thus the custom official who is in the location will lend the traditional clothes formed special sarong of Makasar people named lipak sabbe (silk sarong). 

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Tongkang Burn Tradition in Bagansiapiapi

Tongkang is an artistic boat made of paper. The tradition to burn Tongkang (Chinese: go ge cap lak) is one of the annual cultural tourisms that have become the mainstay of Rokan Hilir District and Riau Province. The tradition has been included in Indonesia tourism visit agenda 2008. This typical ritual of Chinese ethnic in Bagansiapiapi, Riau, is held in every 15th and 16th April, the fifth month of Chinese lunar calendar.

One day before holding the ritual, tongkang along with its replica are paraded toward the oldest Pagoda in Bagansiapiapi to be lodged overnight and will be brought to an open space to be burned on the next day.

For some people, this ritual is used to see their fortunes of their business in the following year. When the pole of tongkang after being burned is facing to the sea, then the business is more directed to the sea. Conversely, when facing the ground, then the business is focused to the ground. Some opinion mentions that the tradition is only an expression of gratitude to God, who bestowed His kindness to them. Another opinion says as an expression of determination to make the place as their homeland, as well as self-affirmation to be never return to the ancestral homeland.

Tongkang burn tradition in Bagansiapiapi is unique and only one in Indonesia. We can watch a variety of attractions with strong character of Chinese ethnic knick-knacks. In the event, we can watch the Barongsai dance, opera, traditional dances of Chinese ethnic, and modern musical performances featured by some artists brought from Indonesia and aboard.

Tongkang Burn Location

The ritual is held in Bagansiapiapi City, Rokan Hilir district, Riau Province, Indonesia. The city is located about 300 kilometers north of Pekanbaru City, the capital of Riau province. The local government has provided various supporting facilities, such as lodging places and outlets to get various unique crafts of Bagansiapiapi.

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Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe in Gorontalo

Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe

Tumbilitohe derives from Gorontalo language, tumbilo means set and tohe means lamps. Therefore, Tumbilotoho means setting lamps. Historically, it has been celebrated by Gorontalo people since the 15th century. It is usually done on the last three days of Ramadhan month (Fasting month), 27th – 30th of Ramadhan, started from maghrib (6 p.m.) until subuh (4 a.m.).

In the past, it was intentionally aimed for lightening Muslims to distribute Islamic tithe at night. At the time, lightening alliances were made of resin torch and latex. Considering that the stock for resin torch decreased time by time, they had ever turned to padalama (coconut oil) then turned to petroleum.

As the time goes by, now Gorontalo people tend to use modern lamps but some of them prefer to use the petroleum lamps. Those petroleum lamps are hung on every beam decorated by young coconut leaves. Banana, as the symbols of prosperity, are also found on the top of those lamps and also sugar cane as the symbols of sweetness, cordiality and the glory of Eid El-Fitr. This tradition has a distinctive attractive power for the local inhabitants and surrounding people living in Manado, Palu and Makassar.

Gorontalo City turns into a glittering city when the tradition of Tumbilotohe takes place. Every part of public service buildings such as local government office, mosques, even football yard, is decorated by colourful lamps. Moreover, farmlands and empty land are also full of flickering lamps which are painted with beautiful mosque, calligraphy and Al Qur`an pictures.
 

This three-day celebration is more interesting when the attraction of bunggo (bamboo cannons) is played by children competing each other. All of those bamboo cannons are faced to the people`s homes, proposed to awaking the people for having sahur (the meal eaten before daybreak during the fasting month).  By such atmosphere, you will feel its religious nuance and strong solidarity of surrounding people.

Traditional Celebration of Tumbilotohe Location

Tumbilotohe is in the city of Gorontalo, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. It can be reach by land, water and air transportations. For you living in Sulawesi Island, you can take any public transportation but for you who are outside Sulawesi Island, you must take either water or air transportations. There are two harbours in Sulawesi Island, Gorontalo Harbour and Anggrek Kwandang Harbour in the district of Gorontalo. In addition, for air transportation, there is an airport in the sub-district of Tibawa, Gorontalo District about 35 km from Gorontalo City. There are many supporting facilities such as hotels, restaurants, worship places, car rentals, and communication devices.

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Bau Nyale Festival in Lombok Island

Bau Nyale Festival


The festival “Bau Nyale” in Sasak language means “menangakap nyale” (catching nyale). Nyale is a kind of worms usually living at the bottom of the sea, such as in the holes of corals. This activity is held every the 20^th of the 10^thmonth of Sasak calendar or five days after the full moon. Usually this event occurs in March. The main program on this festival is catching nyale that only appears once a year in some particular locations in South Beach of LombokIsland. The Nyale will appear in the middle of the night until nearly dawn.
According to the local tale, long time ago along the South Beach, there was Tonjang Beru kingdom led by a king who has a beautiful princess named Princess Mandalika. Her beauty made many princes in Lombok Island charmed. Because of many proposal to her and Princess Mandalika could not choose one of the princes, she decided to plunge into the South Beach and promised that she would be back once a year. Like what she said, she comes back every year, but in the form of nyale. Other tale says that nyale is the transformation of Princess Mandalika`s hair.





Before the main celebration begins, there are many arts and traditional events performed. If you are interested in them, just come at noon. You can build small tents to rest awhile. From these tents, you can watch Betandak (exchanging quatrains), Bejambik (granting souvenir to lovers), and Belancaran (taking a pleasure trip by a boat). Moreover, there will be Princess Mandalika colossal drama performance. 
Many visitors from different area come to Lombok Island just to see the noisy and crowded situation when catching nyale. This festival shows togetherness situation where the people come together to find nyale massively. You are also permitted to participate in finding nyales in this location. If you are lucky enough, you will get many nyale. According to Dr. dr. Soewignyo Soemohardjo`s research, nyale has high protein and they are able to produce a substance which has been proved able to kill germs. The common way to cook nyale amid Lombok society is by wrapping nyale with banana leaves and then burning it. It is commonly called pepes (roasted fish).



Where Bau Nyale Festival Location?

Nyale always appear in the South Beach of Central Lombok which is exactly in 16 points which scatter for tens of kilometers from the East until the West, such as the coast of Kaliantan Beach, Kuta Beach, and Selong Belanak Beach. These beaches are surrounded by hill lines. However, the most crowded beach visited by many tourists is Seger Beach located in Kuta Village, Pujut Sub-district, Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. 


To reach Kuta Village, tourists can use public transportation from Mandalika Terminal (Mataram City) to Praya (the capital of Central Lombok) which is about 30 kilometers. From that location, there is no transportation which go directly to the tour location. Therefore, you can rent a car to get to Kuta Village. To enjoy the beauty of Seger Beach and else while catching nyale, tourists do not have to spend money. Those beaches still become open beaches and have not been made as tour location by local government, except for Kuta Beach.  

If you are interested in this tour, the equipments that you have to provide are flashlight, net, and container for nyale. However, many local people usually provide those equipments.
In the past, this village was quiet enough, but since this festival was loved by the visitors very much, many motels and moderate inns was built around the tour location. Besides, there are also many small stalks and restaurants which offer various kinds of special food from Lombok Island.

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The Traditional Ceremony of Garebeg Keraton Yogyakarta

The Traditional Ceremony of Garebeg


Garebeg Keraton Yogyakarta is a traditional ceremony performed as a manifestation of Sultan’s duty to spread and protect Islam. The ceremony, better known as Grebeg, was initiated by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I (1755 – 1792).
The name Garebeg itself is derived from the process of miyos, the moment when the Sultan and the rest of the royal family come out of the palace (keraton) to bestow the gunungan (a heap of various food served in cone shape) to the people. The sound of the royal family’s steps is likened to the sound of a strong wind garebeg… garebeg… garebeg…
Garebeg is held three times a year on Islamic holidays. There are three kinds of Garebeg, namely Syawal, Garebeg Maulud, and Garebeg Besar. Garebeg Syawal is performed as a form of Keraton’s gratitude to God after finishing the month of fasting and also to welcome the month of Shawwal. Garebeg Maulud is perfomed as a celebration and commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW while Garebeg Besar is to celebrate Eid al-Adha which takes place in the month of Dhu al-Hijja which in Javanese calendar is known as Bulan Besar (the Big Month).


The traditional ceremony is opened with a parade of Keraton soldiers. In the structure of Keraton military, there are ten groups of soldiers: Wirobrojo, Daheng, Patangpuluh, Jagakarya, Prawirotama, Ketanggung, Mantrijero, Nyutra, Bugis, and Surakarsa. One by one, eight groups of soldiers come out of Siti Hinggil (the main hall of the palace where a Sultan is inaugurated) through Pagelaran (the front room right behind the north gate of the palace) and stop at Alun-alun Utara (the North Esplanade) to form their typical marching formation. Each personel is wearing full dress, carrying a special weapon or banner, while playing a musical instrument. After the eight groups, there will appear Manggala Yugha (Keraton’s military commanders). At last,  the gunungan is carried out of Siti Hinggil escorted by the other two groups of soldiers.





A gunungan is a heap of food that is served in cone shape. It is the special feature of Garebeg. It consists of various natural products, symbolizing Keraton Yogyakarta’s prosperity, that in the occasion will be provided for the people. In Garebeg ceremony, there are six kinds of gunungan, each has different shapes and consists of different kinds of food. Gunungan Dharat is a gunungan whose peak is made of dark big flat cakes and surrounded by ilat-ilatan, the tongue-like cake made of sticky rice. Gunungan Gepak is a gunungan composed of forty baskets containing various tiny cakes of five colors, red, blue, yellow, green, and black. Gunungan Kutug/Bromo contains miscellaneous cakes with a hole on its peak in which there is a brazier burning incenses. As for Gunungan Lanang, the peak is embedded with a cake made of pulverized rice called mustaka (head). This gunungan consists of a combination of long beans, red chilies, duck eggs, and sticky rice. Gunungan Wadon is a gunungan made of many kinds of small cakes and sticky rice cakes. Gunungan Pawuhan resemblesGunungan Wadon in shape, except that there is a small white flag on its peak.


All gunungans are brought to Alun-alun Utara. By then, Keraton’s soldiers are already waiting in lines to give salvos of honors. After that, escorted by all of the soldiers, the gunungans are carried to Masjid Gedhe Kauman (Keraton’s mosque, literally means the Big Mosque of Kauman since it is situated in Kauman neighborhood) in order to be prayed for by the high priest of the mosque. Later on, the gunungans are put on the ground so that the people waiting around the mosque can take the food right away. The crowd will struggle to take any food provided in the gunungans. They believe that the food will bring them luck and prosperity. Some kinds of the food are believed to have the power to fertilize land if planted, so that the amount of crops will be abundant.

How to Access Location Garebeg Keraton Yogyakarta?

The entire ceremony is held in three different places, yet near to each other. The ceremony begins in the Pagelaran Hall of Keraton Yogyakarta, than moves to Alun-alun Utara and ends in the complex of Masjid Gedhe Kauman. All of the places lie in Yogyakartadowntown, the Province of Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. To get to the palace, you can take a Trans-Jogja bus route 1B, 2A, 2B, and 3A from the nearest shelter and pay around Rp. 3.000,00 (by October 2008) for the fare. Using this public transportation, you should stop at the Kantor Pos Besar shelter, then take a walk or a pedicab to the palace complex. To get more comfort and ease, you can take a taxi up to the front of the ticket counters.


To enter the palace and see the entire ceremony, the charge is Rp 10.000,00 a person (by October 2008). Around the palace there are parking lots for motorcycle and car so that visitors who take their own vehicles should not worry. Besides, outside the gate, visitors can easily find people selling traditional toys, souvenirs, and snacks and beverages.

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