Making Batik photo

Batik is one of the cultural heritage of Indonesia. In this country there are many cities that have their own batik characteristic such as Jogjakarta, Solo, Pekalongan, Kalimantan, Cirebon and many more. Batik from Jogjakarta or Yogyakarta has many motives or pattern. Each pattern has its own meaning and some motives can only be wore by certain people. So, what are the meaning?

[ad]

1. Kawung
Batik with Kawung pattern is worn by the king and the family. Kawung pattern symbolizes justice and power. This motif consists of four circle focused on a point means a King that is assisted by his servants.

2. Sido Mukti
Batik Sido Mukti is worn on a wedding by the bride and the groom. Sido means continuously, Mukti means prosper and full of happiness. It is expected the bride and groom who wear this batik will someday be happy and prosperous.

3. Truntum
Batik Truntum is worn by the parents of the bride and groom. Truntum means to guide. It is expected the parents are able to guide and giving wise advices to the bride and groom to stepping in the marriage life.

4. Parang
Parang means weapon (like a sword), it symbolizes power and speed.

5. Ciptoning
For those who wear Batik Ciptoning is expected to be a wise person, he may give wise advice and right suggestion in the life.

6. Sido Mulyo Semen
Sido means continuously, Mulyo means prosper. It is expected anyone who wear this batik will by prosperous.

7. Wahyu Temurun
The one who wears Batik Wahyu Temurun is hopefully will always get the God’s guidance and blessing.

8. Tambal
Tambal means to mend or repair, to be used more longer. It is believed any sick people will be getting well easier if wearing this batik.

9. Udan Liris
Udan Liris means drizzle, it symbolizes fertility.

10. Nitik
It is expected the one who wears Batik Nitik will be a wise person

11. Sido Mulyo
It means responsibility, prosperity and protect the earth.

12. Ceplok Kasatrian
The one who wears this batik will have the spirit of knight.

Soldier of Kraton photo by Victor_deka

Grebek Demak is an annual event of Demak citizens in order to welcome or celebrate Eid al-Adha. This year Grebek Demak will be held on November, 27-28 2009. The event itself was preceded by a night market in the field Jogo Tembiring Indah, Wonosalam district, Demak regency for seven days and seven nights. [ad#468x60-red] The Summit took place on the 9th of Dzulhijjah (November 27, 2009) is marked by a ceremony with offerings Nine Tumpeng (9 rice cone). Nine cone prepared in Demak regency hall at 19.00 pm, which then brought to the Grand Mosque of Demak, to be held a Selamatan ceremony.

Gunungan photo by Victor_deka

On the next day at 08.00 am at the district hall will be held ceremony to depart the Jamas oil to Kadilangu tomb which is led by the head of Demak regency who wearing Beskap (traditional uniform) escorted by Patangpuluhan soldiers. In the Kadilangu tomb is held penjamasan ceremony (purification) the heritage of Sunan Kalijaga named Kyai Cerubuk and Kotang Ontokusumo. Purification carried out by the elders man of Kadilangu who are descendants of Sunan Kalijaga. [ad#kotak336]

Religious activities of Batak Samosir People at Toba Lake, Sumatra.


[ad#kotak336]

All Photos by bagak_ida

Javanese has various traditions, which related to rites or ceremonies. Many aspects of life of the Javanese begin with ceremonies. A ceremony seems become the initiation to start, end or avoid something. Among ceremonies, there is one, which is very important to perform. For those who believe, this ceremony will improve the quality of life. Not only will it improve the economic aspect but also health, relationship, peace, welfare and luck. The ceremony is Ruwatan.

Ruwatan comes from the old Javanese language ‘mangruwat’. The meaning is to release or set free. The ceremony is essentially to pray to the God, asking protection and prevention from all disturbances. Therefore, the interesting things are on how the rite is performed and who should be involved.

For whom is the rite?
Before we discuss how the rite is performed, we have to know firstly on who should be involved. This is important because ruwatan should be performed for persons or thing with certain condition. This rite is for persons which is in the ‘sukerta’ category. The sukerta category can be ontang-anting (a child without brother or sister), kedhana-kedhini (a son and a daughter), kembang sepasang (two daughters), sendhang kapit pancuran (two daughters and a son, in which the son is born after the first daughter), pancuran kapit sendhang (two sons and a daughter, in which the daughter is born after the first son). The persons with sukerta category or we can call them as the patients, have bad luck that should be neutralized. The goal of this ceremony is to banish the sukerta (bad luck).

[ad#kotak336]
The Procession
The one who lead the ceremony is usually a person with spiritual ability. Commonly, a dalang (puppeteer of traditional Javanese shadow plays) leads the procession. The procession of ruwatan consists of four basic steps. The first is taking a bath. The patients wear pasatan (bathing cloth), the leader pours water over them. The water consists of kanthil (magnolia), mawar (rose) and melati (jasmine) flowers. The second step is hair cutting. Only a few hairs are cutted as symbol to banish the sukerta. The third is floating the pasatan and the hair to the sea. The fourth is the Javanese shadow puppet performance.

The shadow puppet performance is not merely a show but it consists of prays. It plays certain story namely Murwakala. It tells the beginning of the calamity occurs on earth. It is Batara Kala, a giant god, who asks food to Batara Guru, the king of gods. Batara Guru is afraid if Batara Kala will eat everything. Therefore, Batara Guru makes limitations on who can be eaten by Batara Kala. The human who may be eaten are those in the sukerta category. Then, Batara Kala comes down to earth to find victims. However, he gets no victim because Ki Dalang Kandhabuwana (the puppeteer) protects the people in the sukerta category.  Ki Dalang Kandhabuwana spells magic words (a prayer) to defeat and banish the evil power of Batara Kala.  The evil power is vanished, this also banish the sukerta from the patients.

For some of the Indonesian, river is an important aspect in their life. It is not just a pathway for water, but it can be the pathway of life. Many activities can be done on the river from just washing, take a bath to activities like buying, selling and spiritual rites.

Today, many rivers in the big cities of Indonesia are full of dirt. Big cities with population problem like Jakarta, has made the people less care about the environment. Take an example of Ciliwung river at Jakarta, it is full of garbage, smell not good and the color of the water is dark brown. The economic condition has insisted the people to use the water for bathing, tooth brushing, dish washing and even cooking.

Ciliwung River photo is taken from pu.go.id
[ad#kotak336]

Now let us take a look on rivers in the rural areas. Rural areas of Indonesia are commonly have better environment. The rivers are clean from garbage, the water is more proper for bathing and other activities than those of the big cities’. The villagers are commonly have well, but they love to do things on the rivers. River is not merely for washing, bathing, cleanse cattles or make something wet, it is a place for interacting with other people. In addition, people at Kuin-Barito, South Kalimantan, make the river as a market. Selling and buying are done on boats.

One more interesting thing that people do on river is spiritual rite. Some people use river to do a dip for a night long. This activity is basiccaly to test their motivation, emotion, believe and physical strength. People who do such thing are those who has certain believe and the rite is a way to achieve a goal. Nowadays, only few people do that.

The most important is we have to care about our environment. Water and air are the most important aspect of human’s life. Let’s start from our surrounding to save the planet.

Sekaten is a religious and cultural event, and a fair to be held at Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta (Yogyakarta) and Kasunanan Surakarta (Sala). This  event is held to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, the foundedr of Islam. As we know Islam is the majority religion in Indonesia. In Yogyakarta, this event is full of spiritual ceremonies that should be done in a series. What are the processions from the start until the end?

Ziarah Pambuka
Ziarah Pambuka is a devotional visit to two tombs, Kotagede Burial and Imogiri Burial. The aim is to respect and to pray for the founder of Mataram (the former of Yogyakarta). At Kotagede, the pilgrims visit Panembahan Senopati’s grave. At Imogiri they visit the grave of former Kings of Yogyakarta. This year it take place on December 23, 2008.

Pasang Pathok
This is the ceremony to begin the preparation of the location of Sekaten. In Yogyakata, the location is always at Alun-alun Utara Kraton (North Square of Kraton Yogyakarta). On December 29, 2008.

Pambuka
It is the opening ceremony. In this ceremony, we can see various performances, the venue is on Alun-alun Utara or Pagelaran Kraton. Artists are performing their choreography, music arrangement and traditional singing. This is the most valuable time to be missed. The opening ceremony took place on January 30, 2009.

Miyos Gongso
This is the beginning event of sekaten when the sacred Gamelan Sekati that consists of Gamelan Kiai Nagawilaga and its replica Kiai Gunturmadu are taken out from the saving room at Bangsal Srimanganti to a prepared place at the Masjid Agung (Mosque) yard. The place for the gamelan is called ‘pagongan lor’ (north stage) and ‘pagongan kidul’ (south stage). The gamelan is played a week before the birthday of Prophet Muhammad at 12 Rabiul Awal or 12 Maulid. The date for this procession is on March 2, 2009.

Kondur Gongso
A night before 12 Mulid or before March 9, 2009, the gamelan will be taken back to its room at Bangsal Srimanganti. Before the ceremony, Sultan of Yogyakarta will attend at the porch of the Mosque to listen to the story of Prophet Muhammad. A chief of Kraton reads the story.

[ad#kotak336]
Grebeg Maulud
This event is the peak of Sekaten when the Grebeg Maulud comes out. This is the birthday of Muhammad, on 12 Maulud (March 9, 2009). Grebeg comes from the word “garebeg”, a cultural rite of Sultan to thank God for the blessing by giving alms for ‘abdi dalem’ (Sultans’s staff/servants) and ‘kawula dalem’ (the people). Gunungan Putri and Gunungan Kakung are the focus of grebeg. Gunungan is pyramidal offerings consists of food, vegetables and fruit. The people will compete to get everything from gunungan as they believe they will get prosperity. This procession is the end of Sekaten and the fair at Alun-alun utara Krataon.

Ziarah Panutup
This is the closing devotional visit to Kotagede and Imogiri tombs. It will take place on April 6, 2009.

[ad#ad-1]

When I travel to North Sulawesi, I visit not only Bunaken at Manado but also archaeological remains at Sawangan village, Airmadidi, Minahasa Regency. The people call the relic ‘Waruga’. The word waruga consists of two words: waru (means a house), and ruga (means body). Therefore, it means ‘the house for the body that backs to the heaven’. From its meaning, may be you guess it as a cemetery. Yes, you are right, but it is a unique burial place for the ancestors of Minahasa.

[ad#kotak336]
Waruga looks like a small stone monument with roof on it. It consists of two parts, the first is cubical stone with hole in it. The hole is the place where the dead body is placed. The stone is about 1 meter in width and 1 to 2 meters high. The second part is the roof, it is made from stone as well. The roof is on the cubical stone, just like a house for the living people. The oldest Waruga was built on about 900 BC.
Characters are carved on each roof but not on the oldest. The carved object represents the work of the dead during their life like midwife, carpenter, hunter, etc. 104 clans are buried there. Together with the body, jewelry like ring, necklace, earring and bracelet that belong to the dead are also buried there. However, it cannot be found in the Waruga now, the government has saved them in the museum to keep it away from thieved.

How to Get there?

The location is about 24 kilometers from Manado. The government has provided easy access to the location. It is avalable car and minibus to the Sawangan village or taxi to be more private.

At the past, when the civilization was not as modern as now, the Javanese made their own toys. Toys were made from materials that they found in their surrounding. Materials like coconut fiber, wood and bamboo were most used. With those materials, the people were able to make toys like car, boat, and gasingan.

Well, here I want to tell about a legendary toy that has name Gasingan or Gasing. Today, this toy is rare; it is not played by the children anymore. Kids prefer to play video games, watch TV or RC car than play gasingan. Moreover, many kids do not know if this toy exists. The only place that we can find this toy is at tourism place around Yogyakarta. I found it at Kraton and at Gembira Loka zoo. The price for this toy is cheap, it is about IDR4, 000. It will be cheaper when we can bid well.

This toy is made from bamboo and wood. As we can see at the picture, the bamboo for the tube is about ten centimeter with wood board to cover each pole. A bamboo stick that is about twenty centimeters placed in the middle as the wick so that it can stand when turning. A sided hole is made on the bamboo. This hole will create sound ‘kwoooooo’ when it is played. A line and a small lath of bamboo are used to play the toy.

[ad#kotak336]
To play gasingan is very simple; first pass the line through the hole on the lath. Secondly, twist the line on the upper wick. Thirdly, pull the line with one hand while the other hand is holding the lath.

At the past, groups of kid played gasingan. They competed to be the one whose toy was spinning fastest and last standing. This toy was fun and very entertaining; moreover, the game was creating communication among the kids, they shared stories and experience.

If you walk on the streets in Indonesia, you will find how much the motorcycles pass by. Brands from Japan like Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki are the most dominating. Indonesian people from government officer to high school student use motorcycle. Year by year, the demand is increasing, that machine is a necessity than a lavish assets.

Why motorcycle is so popular in Indonesia? To answer it, we have to look back to the economic aspect of the people. Most people are live in the middle class; they earn not more than IDR 1,500,000 per month. With their high mobility, they need fast and cheap transportation vehicle. Motorcycle is the most appropriate; it is relatively cheap and fast. To get a motorcycle is simply pay about IDR 500,000 for the down payment, and then they only need to pay the credit for about IDR 450,000 per month for about 4-5 years.

So, what does the Indonesian use motorcycle for? I can say they use it for transport everything: people, things and animal. As long as the vehicle can carry, it will carry as many things as possible. As it can be seen on the photograph, a person carry two goats with his motorcycle. A basket from bamboo at the back becomes the container for the goats. This is very common in Indonesia. In order to carry more things, as a choice, there is a motorcycle with three wheels and a container at the back. For this vehicle, I call it for myself a truckcycle. People who use it are those who have delivery business like water gallon and LPG or for buying goods for resale. It also used by the government to carry staffs who repair road, street lamps and town’s garden.

[ad#kotak336]
High school students use motorcycle to go to the school. To be allowed to drive a motorcycle they should be at least 17 years old and have driving license. The driving license for driving motorcycle is C type. The motorist has to wear helmet to protect their head, as it is written on the regulation or they will be stopped by the police.

Motorcycle is becoming an alternative vehicle for tourist to discover the beauty of Indonesia. To rent a motorcycle is cheap about IDR 50,000 to 150,000 (according to the motorcycle condition). By the Indonesia map assistance, you can travel the tourism place freely by motorcycle. Stop anywhere you want to take photograph, find food or take a rest. Driving a motorcycle is ‘blending’ myself to the nature as I can breathe the air, feel the warm of the sun and blown by the wind.

[ad#ad-1]