Takbir echoes through the morning air in Negeri Hila, Leihitu\nDistrict, Central Maluku Regency. Amid the cheers of the crowd, hundreds\nof young men jogged along village roads while carrying a male goat on\ntheir shoulders. Behind them, thousands of residents walked in\nprocession, chanting prayers and takbir in unison.<\/p>\n
This scene is more than just a livestock procession. The Hila\ncommunity calls it Lawa Pipi, or \u2018Carry and Run Goat\u2019, a centuries-old\ntradition deeply woven into their Idul Adha celebrations. Locals view it\nas a miniature reenactment of the Hajj pilgrimage, passed down through\ngenerations.<\/p>\n
Since morning, the customary village on the Leihitu Peninsula has\nbeen filled with visitors from across the region. They have come to\nwitness one of Maluku\u2019s most distinctive traditions, blending religious\ndevotion, cultural heritage, and communal unity.<\/p>\n
The Lawa Pipi proceedings begin with a tahlil prayer session at the\nOllong Old House. Religious leaders, customary elders, mosque officials,\nand residents gather to offer prayers for ancestors and express\ngratitude to God.<\/p>\n
After the tahlil, a selected goat known as the \u2018Temal goat\u2019 is\nbrought forward. The largest and healthiest among them holds a special\nplace in the tradition, symbolising Prophet Ismail\u2019s role in the\nsacrificial story.<\/p>\n
Soon after, young men lift the Temal goat onto their shoulders and\ncarry it around the village in a brisk jog. This ritual symbolises the\nSa\u2019i, one of the Hajj rites performed by pilgrims in the Holy Land.<\/p>\n
Along the route, residents eagerly watch the procession. Children,\nadults, and elders line the village streets, creating an atmosphere of\njoyous solemnity during this annual event.<\/p>\n
After circling the village, the procession moves to Hasan Soleman\nMosque. In the courtyard of the historic mosque, the Temal goat is\ncarried seven times around the building, symbolising the Tawaf around\nthe Kaaba.<\/p>\n
During the final round, the imam and mosque chief slaughter the Temal\ngoat at a designated spot behind the mosque. As the sacrifice takes\nplace, locals throw coins and banknotes towards the goat. This ritual\nsymbolises the stoning of the jamarat and prayers for safety and\nprotection from calamity.<\/p>\n
The collected money is used to purchase spices and cooking supplies\nfor the sacrificial meat, which is then distributed to less fortunate\nresidents.<\/p>\n
Abubakar Tatisina, a mosque official at Hasan Soleman Hila, explained\nthat the entire Lawa Pipi sequence represents the Hajj rites performed\nin Mecca.<\/p>\n
\u2018Our ancestors observed each Hajj ritual in Mecca and recreated them\nin miniature through the Lawa Pipi tradition,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
According to Abubakar, the tradition not only forms part of Idul Adha\ncelebrations but also instils spiritual values in the youth and\nstrengthens community bonds.<\/p>\n
\u2018Through Lawa Pipi, young people learn about the Hajj rites performed\nin the Holy Land,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Kasim Assawala, chair of the Lawa Pipi Cultural Festival committee,\nnoted that youth participation in every ritual demonstrates the\ntradition\u2019s vitality and continued community affection.<\/p>\n
\u2018Lawa Pipi is more than a ceremonial event; it is a symbol of unity\nand respect for ancestral heritage that must be preserved,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the customary rituals and animal sacrifices, the Lawa\nPipi Cultural Festival features traditional art performances such as\nhadrat and samra, along with local language speech competitions. This\nyear\u2019s Idul Adha saw Hila\u2019s community sacrifice 35 goats and nine\ncattle.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawa-pipi-tradition-a-miniature-hajj-ritual-from-hila-maluku-1780115270", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }