Yogyakarta residents gear up for Ramadhan
With Ramadhan fast approaching, Muslims across the country are busily preparing themselves for the event.
In Yogyakarta, the purification rites held before the holy month are known as nyadran, ruwahan or merti dusun.
In Jolosutro village in Bantul’s Piyungan district, hundreds of villagers recently participated in the Kupatan Kring Jolosutro ceremony to show their gratitude to God.
Aside from attending ritual feasts, residents participated in the kirab jodhang procession, in which they walked from their village to the Kyai Sunan Geseng holy tomb three kilometers away carrying jodhang (containers filled with offerings).
After praying at the tomb, they scrambled to get their hands on the offerings, which are believed to bring good luck.
“This annual tradition has been passed down from generation to generation,” said local resident Muryadi, 51.
Residents of Soge Sanden village in Bantul traditionally hold a similar ritual before the fasting month to pray for deceased family members.
As part of the ritual, known as ruwahan, they visit cemeteries to offer prayers and place flowers on the final resting places of their ancestors.
“Ruwah (the Javanese month before the fasting month) is when we must pray for the deceased. Javanese people believe the spirits of their ancestors usually visit their children and grandchildren before Ramadhan,” said Karso, 70.
Nasrudin Anshori, the caretaker of the Ilmu Giri Islamic boarding school in Selopamioro village, Imogiri, Bantul, said nyadran and similar rituals are a time for people to purity themselves before performing their religious duties.
“It is to ensure we are truly cleansed before fasting,” he told The Jakarta Post.
The nyadran tradition, Nasrudin said, also focuses on relationships, such as relationships among members of the community and communication with the deceased.
“Nyadran is also … held in preparation for devoting ourselves to God, because in Islam, fasting is a special religious service.”
He said nyadran is from the word yadaro, which means ancestor. The ritual also gives people the opportunity to ask for forgiveness before fasting.
According to Nasrudin, nyadran evolved during the era of the Wali Songo — nine pious leaders who contributed to the spread of Islam across Java.
“At the time Islam was spreading, Muslim leaders merged Islamic teachings with local traditions, especially before the Ramadhan month. And this tradition still continues,” he said.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com