Age-old tradition continues in Bugis village<\/p>\n
By Alpha Savitri<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The Muslim community of Bugis village in
\nSerangan, Denpasar, celebrates the unique ritual of Megalicik
\nQuran every year in a tradition dating back to when the village
\nwas visited by death.<\/p>\n
Megalicik is from the Bugis dialect of South Sulawesi, which
\nmeans to parade or carry, while Quran refers to the holy Koran.
\nThe tradition is believed to have started in the 17th century
\nwhen the Buginese seafaring people first arrived on the Hindu-
\ndominated island.<\/p>\n
One of the oldest Islamic villages in Bali, Serangan continues
\nto be mainly occupied by descendants of the Buginese sailors who
\nfled South Sulawesi when the Dutch attempted to crush the many
\nIslamic kingdoms in the area.<\/p>\n
Many Buginese, a people known for their bravery, chose to flee
\nand look for new areas to settle, including Serangan, instead of
\nsuccumbing to the Dutch.<\/p>\n
According to villager Haj Mansyur, the pioneering Buginese
\nseamen were soon caught by the King of Badung's troops.<\/p>\n
But the king knew that Buginese people were renowned as being
\ncourageous sailors and soldiers, and ordered them to fight
\nagainst rival Mengwi troops. With the help of the Buginese
\nsailors, the Badung kingdom won their battle and annexed Mengwi
\nas part of its territory.<\/p>\n
The king awarded the Buginese a plot of land in Serangan
\nvillage where they have lived for generations. Their descendants
\nfaithfully follow their ancestors' traditions, including parading
\nthe Koran, usually held once a year on the ninth day of the
\nIslamic Muharram month.<\/p>\n
Village elder Hj. Mansyur, 60, said the tradition began when
\nthe village was devastated by a terrible plague. Victims fell
\nsick in the morning and were dead by nightfall. The plague spread
\nto surrounding villages, taking a terrible toll.<\/p>\n
One of the village's founders, Hj. Hasbullah, was visited by
\nGod in a dream. He was told that the plague was sent down as a
\nwarning from God about the sins of man and the only way to end it
\nwas to have the men of the village conduct Megalicik Quran as a
\nspiritual cleansing.<\/p>\n
The men were required to perform the ceremony for three
\nconsecutive days while reciting an Arabic chant.<\/p>\n
"The verse in Arabic is very long, but he was able to memorize
\nit from his dream. When he woke up, all of the villagers were
\ninstructed to learn the verse," Mansyur said.<\/p>\n
The plague passed, but continued to strike surrounding Hindu
\nvillages. They eventually tried the parade around their villages,
\nbut, of course, without carrying the Islamic holy book. The
\ndisease and dying also stopped in those places.<\/p>\n
Purification<\/p>\n
The ritual continues today in a process of spiritual
\npurification. This year, after Ashar (afternoon) prayers in
\nApril, the 255 male villagers gathered at the 17th century
\nAssyuhada mosque.<\/p>\n
A group of men commenced the ritual. One of them took the
\nKoran and carried it on his head. On his right, a child carried a
\nred and white colored national flag, while on the left another
\nboy carried the Zulfakar flag, the community's trademark.<\/p>\n
It is believed the Zulfakar flag was used by the villagers'
\nancestors as a symbol of victory when they helped the King of
\nBadung in a battle against the Mengwi kingdom.<\/p>\n
The village men hummed adzan (the call to prayer) and later
\nwalked around the village while singing the famous verse in
\nArabic. They stopped in every corner of the village and stood
\nfacing the direction of Mecca. They repeated the parade three
\ntimes in a ritual taking about one hour.<\/p>\n
The day after the ritual, a closing ceremony was held. Village
\nwomen prepared special porridge garnished with egg, which they
\nate together with their menfolk at the mosque.<\/p>\n
The tradition has changed little over the years, but it has
\nbeen simplified by the villagers, most of whom earn a living in
\nthe ornamental fish trade. From 1970, the men have not conducted
\nthe ritual over three days in a row, but instead three times on
\nthe one day. It may have been changed for the times, but it is
\nimportant for them nevertheless, in giving thanks for God's grace
\nand acknowledging His power.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/age-old-tradition-continues-in-bugis-village-1447893297",
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