A small
community in Bondowoso, East Java, has an annual tradition in time with the
Islamic month of Sya’ban. The ritual is held to thank God for the harvest and
honor their ancestors.
The village
of Belimbing in the Klabang subdistrict of East Java’s Bondowoso holds a
thanksgiving ritual every year during Sya’ban.
It is
called Singo Ulung, combining the Javanese word for lion and part of the name
of a village founder Ki Singo.
The ritual
begins with several performances, including a lion dance that involves three
characters playing the part of white lions.
The dances
are followed by the village marching to Nagger, a location considered sacred by
the locals.
The
villagers carry various offerings with them such as rice, vegetables and fruit.
Before
presenting these at Nangger, the village holds a prayer under the leadership of
an elder/ to honor the ancestors so that the current leader may continue to
protect the village and ensure its prosperity.
Ki Singo is
said to have fled Blambangan, on the eastern tip of Java, along with his wife,
Nyi Moena, and a friend, Ki Jasinga.
The three
decided to settle in Belimbing and cleared the forest there for fields to
cultivate crops.
Many others
later joined the settlement, and Ki Singo became its first village head —
honored to this day.
“We, the
villagers of Belimbing, want the village to become even more prosperous in the
future and have no obstacles,” Irwan, the village head of ceremonies said. “We
are always holding this event in Nangger, an event that is to mark the birth of
Belimbing village here.”
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