'Keduk Telaga' shows villagers how to preserve environment<\/p>\n
Singgir Kartana, Contributor\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The sun has just come up in the East and hundreds of villagers
\ngather on the banks of Lake Saga in the Bareng hamlet of
\nGunungkidul, Yogyakarta to participate in what is locally known
\nas the keduk telaga ritual, held last month.<\/p>\n
Keduk in Javanese literally means to scoop up, while telaga is
\nthe Javanese word for lake. Keduk telaga, therefore, literally
\nmeans to scoop up the lake; to remove sediment to cleanse it.<\/p>\n
Culturally, however, it refers to a tradition that has been
\ncarried out for generations in Gunungkidul, especially in those
\nregions that have lakes.<\/p>\n
\"We perform it in anticipation of drought. It is conducted
\nahead of the dry season, usually after the harvest time,\" said
\nvillager Parmorejo, 67, who led the prayers performed ahead of
\nthe keduk telaga ritual that day.<\/p>\n
Gunungkidul indeed is home to numerous lakes. Among the
\nbiggest are Lake Saga, Lake Jonge in Semanu sub-district, Lake
\nDepok in Tanjungsari sub-district, Lake Ngomang in Saptosari sub-
\ndistrict, and Lake Kepuh, Lake Bulu, and Lake Pengos in Trowono
\nsub-district.<\/p>\n
Performed as an expression of gratitude to God, keduk telaga
\nis also an expression of hope for God's protection of the
\npeople's wealth. Wealth for them often means sufficient water,
\nand the hope is fulfilled only when the lake is full of water.<\/p>\n
\"That's why the lake must be well maintained,\" said Parmorejo,
\nadding that it was also through the tradition of keduk telaga
\nthat local villagers undertook maintenance on the lake.<\/p>\n
The mass prayer that Parmorejo led initiated the whole
\nprocession. It was then followed by a brief explanation of the
\nlake, its existence, and its benefits to the community, before
\nthey started cleaning it by scooping up bottom sediment.<\/p>\n
Other villagers can also be seen preparing food near the lake.
\nThey were tasked with preparing the meal for the thanksgiving
\nceremony, or kenduri as it is locally known, held at the end of
\nthe ceremony during which people enjoy the meal together.<\/p>\n
\"Each of the hamlets in the surrounding area sends its
\nrepresentatives to the thanksgiving ceremony. They are also
\ninvolved in preparing it,\" Parmorejo explained.<\/p>\n
Parmorejo, who is also head of Bareng hamlet, also said that
\nthe ritual was a means to educate local people about the
\nimportance of preserving the environment.<\/p>\n
Through the ritual they acknowledge that removing sediment
\nfrom the bottom of the lake increases the lake's water holding
\ncapacity. They also learn that apart from its economic benefits,
\nputting fish into the lake can also prevent mosquitoes from
\nbreeding in it.<\/p>\n
Similarly, they also learn that planting trees around the lake
\nand avoiding cutting down big trees is significant in maintaining
\nand increasing water springs and making water clearer as well.<\/p>\n
For villagers in Gunungkidul, especially those living in the
\nsouthern areas like the subdistricts of Tepus, Tanjungsari,
\nJepitu, Kemadang, and Semanu, water has always been a big
\nproblem. Almost every year they experience drought, forcing them
\nto purchase water during the dry season.<\/p>\n
Head of Kemiri village Kirdi, 44, said that before most of the
\nfamilies in his jurisdiction did not have their own water
\nreservoirs, and they were therefore completely dependent on the
\nlake for their water supply. The lake was their only source of
\nwater.<\/p>\n
\"Since four years ago, however, we use it only for washing and
\nbathing purposes. For cooking and drinking we use rainwater or
\nbuy clean water when we run out of rainwater,\" Kirdi said.<\/p>\n
Lake Saga, according to Kirdi, is special because it is one of
\nthe few lakes in the region that rarely dried out even during
\nprolonged drought. It also very scenic as it is located near
\ndense forest. Various birds are also often seen perching on the
\ntrees there.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Amien (former speaker of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly Amien Rais) once expressed his admiration of the lake
\nwhile visiting here to deliver fish to breed,\" a villager of
\nBareng recalled.<\/p>\n
Still, people still express concern over the significant
\ndecrease in the water level of the lake lately. They say the
\ndecrease has never been so big.<\/p>\n
Measuring a kilometer in length and 200 meters wide, the lake,
\naccording to locals, was formerly six meters deep. Currently, it
\nis only 2.5 meters deep.<\/p>\n
In fact, 4,000 families in 13 hamlets are very dependent on
\nthe lake for their water supply.<\/p>\n
\"We fear the lake would completely dry up if we don't remove
\nthe sediment as we are told that it is the main reason for the
\nsharp decrease in the water level,\" Kirdi said, explaining why
\nthe removal of the sediment was conducted last month through the
\nkeduk telaga tradition.<\/p>\n
\"We have been buying clean water since the beginning of May
\nfor consumption purposes,\" Supiyo, 40, a teacher in the village
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A tank of clean water that he normally buys for Rp 60,000
\nusually lasts for half a month. He will have to spend much more
\nof course if the lake dries up.<\/p>\n
That's why increasing people's awareness over the importance
\nof preserving nature is considered urgent. One effective way of
\ndoing this is through the keduk telaga tradition that formerly
\nwas rich in superstition, but now is held more to convey rational
\nexplanations about preserving the environment.<\/p>\n
Formerly people were afraid to cut down trees because of what
\nthey believed to be the sacredness of the trees. Now they are
\nafraid to cut down trees because they know that doing so can
\nthreaten their water supply.<\/p>\n
\"There was once a rumor that the government would ban the
\ntradition from being conducted, but we keep performing and tried
\nto use it to explain things that formerly were considered
\nmystical with rational explanations. It turns out that it's worth
\nmaintaining (this tradition),\" Kirdi said.<\/p>",
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