Acehnese celebrate 'maulid' in unique way<\/p>\n
By Lila Fitri Aly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In Aceh, customs and religion are inseparable.
\nIslamic teachings are reflected in Acehnese tradition and are the
\nguidelines for the Acehnese society.<\/p>\n
The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's maulid (birthday) in
\nAceh is one of the ceremonies of great importance. In Rabi'ul
\nAwal, the third month in Islamic calendar in which the prophet
\nwas born in Mecca, housewives conjure up the best foods for the
\ncelebration: rice, various kinds of dishes, fruit and cakes which
\ncan be enjoyed together. In Jakarta, the Aceh community, away
\nfrom their hometown, celebrated the maulid on Sept. 3 at the Aceh
\npavilion of the Taman Mini (Indonesia in Miniature Park) in East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Tents were erected for guests who came from various circles of
\nsociety to celebrate the birthday of the prophet, which coincided
\nwith April 20 of the year 570.<\/p>\n
A stage measuring 120 square meters was decorated with
\npredominantly golden-filigree curtains.<\/p>\n
\"Yellow, green and red are typically Acehnese colors. Yellow
\nsymbolizes royalty (Aceh was formerly a kingdom), green is for
\nreligion (Islam), and red denotes courage,\" said Cut Mah, a
\nbeautician who specializes in Acehnese bridal make-up.<\/p>\n
Many attractions such as zikir (chants in praise of God the
\nAlmighty and the esteemed Prophet Muhammad) and other Acehnese
\narts were presented on the stage. The guests were seated on mats
\nand carpets, the men sitting cross-legged, right in front of the
\nstage, while the women, separated from the men, occupied the
\nright and left sides of the stage.<\/p>\n
On the left side of the stage, there were idang-idang, or food
\nwhich was arranged in seven piles as a ritual meal. An idang is
\narranged in a round rattan basket with a diameter of 60 cm and a
\nheight of 125 cm. Typical Acehnese cloth with gold filigree is
\nwrapped around the idang. For practical reasons, the idang served
\nthat day were embellished by decorative paper in yellow, green
\nand red.<\/p>\n
\"Organizing the maulid celebration this year was a special
\noccasion. Apart from an expression of gratitude for Indonesia's
\n50th independence anniversary, it was also to celebrate the 45th
\nanniversary of the Taman Iskandar Muda, the organization of
\nAcehnese in Jakarta,\" said its chairman Mustafa Abubakar.<\/p>\n
Around 5,000 people, including government officials and
\nforeign diplomats, attended the celebration.<\/p>\n
\"With this maulid celebration, we want to show the greatness
\nof Islam,\" Mustafa added.<\/p>\n
Typically Aceh<\/p>\n
The celebration started with zikir and was followed with
\nselawat (prayers for Prophet Muhammad, his family and friends) by
\nsome 25 youths aged between 18 and 25. They wore yellow Acehnese
\nshirts and trousers. They wrapped a sarong around their waists
\nand donned a black fez on their heads. The zikir and selawat can
\nbe recited in Arabic or Acehnese.<\/p>\n
At lunch time, the idang-idang were lowered from the stage.<\/p>\n
\"There are 80 idang here, each provides food for 50 people,\"
\nsaid M. Zul Ali, chairman of the idang section. Each idang
\ncontributor also provided a big brass tray containing rice
\nwrapped in banana leaves.<\/p>\n
\"An idang has a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine layers
\nof food,\" said Zul Ali.<\/p>\n
\"Usually it is made of seven layers of food, because seven
\nrepresents the prophet's tradition. The thawaf and sa'i, two main
\nitems of the haj rituals in Mecca, are done seven times.
\nLikewise, a prayer service is held for a woman with a
\nseven-month-old pregnancy,\" said Cut Mah.<\/p>\n
\"On each layer, there are seven bowls containing various kinds
\nof dishes: salted eggs, chicken, fish curry, a meat dish (beef or
\nmutton), and a dessert of fruit salad,\" said Ruslim Hamzah,
\nchairman of the Institute of Acehnese Customs and Culture in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
In Aceh, each housewife usually use their best bowls. In
\nJakarta, however, for practical purposes, most of the bowls used
\nwere plastic.<\/p>\n
Everybody sat on the mats and shared the food from the idang-
\nidang.<\/p>\n
\"This reflects equality in Acehnese society. Someone's rank
\nmay be high, but before God every human being has equal
\nposition,\" said Ali smilingly.<\/p>\n
However, it does not mean that the Acehnese do not respect
\ntheir guests.<\/p>\n
\"On the first (uppermost) layer of the idang, one of the bowls
\ncontains betel leaf which has been prepared with areca nuts,
\nUncaria gambir or gambier, and clove, ready for consumption,
\nwhich is served to the guests as a token of respect,\" said Zul
\nAli.<\/p>\n
As a beverage, cucumber juice was served.<\/p>\n
Traditional<\/p>\n
The Acehnese maulid celebration was copied from the one
\nstarted by Sultan Salahuddin Yusuf al-Ayubi from Egypt -- who in
\nthe West is popularly called Saladin -- a Moslem warrior during
\nthe second period of the Crusades, a war between Moslems and
\nChristians in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. On the Christian
\nside, there were Richard I (Richard the Lion Heart, king of
\nEngland), Frederick I (German emperor) and Philip II (French
\nmonarch).<\/p>\n
\"The war lasted for such a long time that it exhausted the
\nMoslems,\" said Aceh Deputy Governor Zainuddin AG.<\/p>\n
When the spirit to wage wars declined, celebrations of the
\nprophet's maulid were held to boost the people's spirit.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta the Acehnese traditional celebration of the
\nprophet's started in 1982. It was initiated by Ruslim Hamzah who
\nhas been active in Jakarta's Acehnese community since many years
\nago.<\/p>\n
\"At that time various organizations came to me for
\ncontributions for the maulid celebrations. There were invitations
\nfrom many sides, it was difficult for me to choose which one to
\naccept. I thought then, why not coordinate them and make a grand
\ncelebration at one place for all,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Since then the traditional celebration in Jakarta has been
\norganized on a large scale.<\/p>\n
\"This kind of celebration reminds me of my village. I remember
\nattending similar celebrations there. People were so
\nenthusiastic. Long kilometers to walk were no problem for those
\nwho wanted to attend the maulid celebrations from one village to
\nanother,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the province, this tradition has been maintained since the
\nadvance of Islam. The maulid celebrations there are dominated by
\nmen, although they are very much supported by the women. Only men
\nattend the celebration which is always held at village prayer
\nhall, which is also used as a meeting place, called meunasah, the
\nwomen stay at home preparing the food.<\/p>\n
\"That is part of Islamic culture,\" said Ruslim.<\/p>\n
\"At the celebration, women come with the best food. Since the
\nprevious harvest they have stock-piled the best rice, fat and
\nhealthy chickens and the most delicious fish,\" said Ruslim.<\/p>\n
\"The women vie with each other in serving the most delicious
\nfood. Even for a child's marriage the best food is served, let
\nalone for the celebration of the prophet's birthday. All is done
\nwholeheartedly, because of God, and for His blessings,\" said Cut
\nMah.<\/p>\n
At 11 a.m. the housewives send the idang-idang to the
\nmeunasah. After men have gathered, they perform midday prayer
\nthen zikir which may last for two hours. While so-doing the men
\nstamp their feet on the wooden floors of the prayer place.
\nFinally, the ritual meal is opened by the meunasah leader. People
\nare allowed to eat as much as they can and are allowed to bring
\nhome food for their wives and children. Of course, families who
\nsend an idang do not need the food because there is still plenty
\nat home. Although women are not present at the hall, they can
\nenjoy feast at home.<\/p>",
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