Balinese nurture cultural identity in Langkat<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Langkat, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
\"When in Rome, do as the Romans,\" so goes the well-known proverb.
\nAnd Wayan Mangku Digejen, a Hindu priest who lives in Hamlet
\nBingei village, has done just that.<\/p>\n
Along with him are some 30 families of Balinese origin who
\nhave lived in this hamlet for many years. They live in harmony
\nwith the locals. As they are resolved to live in this hamlet,
\nformerly inhabited mostly by Javanese and Malay, the place is
\nknown as Cita Darma Balinese village.<\/p>\n
Located some 35 kilometers from Stabat, the capital of Langkat
\nregency, the hamlet can be reached by car. Despite its muddy
\nroad, which usually gets muddier in the wet season, the panoramic
\nviews of undulating terrain that can be seen from along the road
\nleading to this hamlet are stunning to the eye.<\/p>\n
The fatigue that may hit you after walking along the road
\nthrough state plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara II
\ndisappears the moment you set foot in this hamlet. Upon entering,
\nyou may feel as if you have gone back in time to another
\ncivilization hundreds of years ago. The houses are built in the
\ntraditional Hindu architectural style, just like those you can
\nfind in Bali now.<\/p>\n
\"We maintain our forefathers' culture so that our descendants
\nwill always know who their ancestors were,\" said Wayan Mangku
\nDigejen, 75.<\/p>\n
He said that most of the residents of Balinese origin in this
\nhamlet came from Kedelalang, Gianyar regency, Bali. They left
\nBali after Mount Agung erupted in 1961, which had caused
\nwidespread destruction.<\/p>\n
The eruption left behind a dry and arid land that led to crop
\nfailure. \"As a result, most of the locals left Bali for a new
\nland. Some 50 families went west to North Sumatra,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In North Sumatra, most of the migrants preferred to dwell in
\nLangkat as traders. Some, he added, went to work in the
\nplantations in, for example, Tanjung Garbus, in the Deli Serdang
\nand Asahan regencies.<\/p>\n
These Balinese were hospitable and open. In addition, they
\nwere endowed with a deep level of artistic and cultural feelings.
\nAs such, they made their hamlet quite comfortable.<\/p>\n
In the center of the hamlet, there are two temples: Alet Widie
\nNate and Panitaan Agung, which is the main temple. Both were
\nbuilt in 1976 by the Balinese. Inside the main temple are three
\nbamboo drums which are beat to summon the residents to gather
\ntogether. They are usually sounded on certain days, for example
\nfor the Purnama Tilem religious rite, which is conducted every 15
\ndays and lasts from 5 p.m. until the night.<\/p>\n
Wayan also talked about other activities involving all the
\nresidents, such as the observation of Balongan, Kuningan and
\nNyepi, which are holy days on the Hindu calendar.<\/p>\n
The head of the Balinese hamlet, Ketut Sate, said that
\nreligious rites in this hamlet showed great dynamism.
\nUnfortunately, he added, artistic and cultural activities, such
\nas dance performances, had long ceased to be practiced, as the
\nprops had been broken.<\/p>\n
He added that although they had lived in this place for over
\nthree decades, they had yet to have a pengabenan (a Balinese
\ncrematorium). If one of the residents dies, he or she is buried,
\nhe said, adding that several years later, when the family has
\nenough money, the corpse is exhumed and the bones taken to Bali
\nto be cremated during a special rite.<\/p>\n
\"We have asked the Langkat regency administration to allow us
\nto conduct this cremation rite here but we have yet to get a
\nresponse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The chief of the tourism, art and cultural office of Langkat
\nregency, Supono, confirmed that his office had received the
\nrequest but that they were still studying it.<\/p>\n
He added, though, that the Langkat regency administration
\nwould focus on the development of its culture for the residents
\nof Balinese origin so that the village could become a prime
\ntourist attraction in the regency.<\/p>\n
\"We have made this village one of the tourist destinations for
\n2003,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/balinese-nurture-cultural-identity-in-langkat-1447893297",
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