Museum's offerings to spirits are 'shaken, not stirred'<\/p>\n
By Narita Gianini<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Where can you find a Martini served up as an
\noffering to keep the other \"spirits\" happy?<\/p>\n
It's at the Jakarta History Museum, often known as Museum
\nFatahillah, in West Jakarta. The museum administrators feel
\ncompelled to provide offerings, which are known as sesaji, at
\ncertain times during the year.<\/p>\n
They declare, however, that they personally do not believe in
\nthe practice.<\/p>\n
\"We would be concerned that if we didn't give the offerings, a
\nworker might be disturbed. We continue the custom, but I don't
\nbelieve in it,\" said Subagiyanto, the head of the administration
\nsubdepartment at the museum.<\/p>\n
In his position for about a year, he said he considered it a
\ntradition passed down from previous generations of employees.<\/p>\n
Old workers insisted on continuing the practice, he added.
\nOfferings,selamatan (thanksgiving) and joint prayers are held in
\nthe hope of keeping untoward events from happening.<\/p>\n
The head of the museum, Tinia Budiati, also professed to being
\na skeptic, but left the offerings up to her employees.<\/p>\n
The first employee to organize the ceremonies was Marmo, who
\nhas retired; his duties have been taken over by Ruri, a museum
\nmessenger. Ruri occasionally consults Marmo if there are problems
\nwith the ceremonies.<\/p>\n
\"Our real intention is a good one, so that the workers will be
\nsafe. It is also to make sure that the staff and all of the
\nvisitors here will remain in good fortune,\" said Ruri.<\/p>\n
The offerings consist of a big bottle of Martini, two
\ncigarettes, bitter coffee, two empty glasses, powdered sandalwood
\nand three types of flowers. Only the sandalwood is burned, with
\nthe rest of the items placed on a tray and set at six different
\nspots.<\/p>\n
For instance, on the second floor of the museum, the offering
\nis placed in the 18th century courtroom on a marble table below a
\nlarge portrait.<\/p>\n
On the first floor, the offering is placed on the Purnawarman
\nholy statue, the women's cell, the ticket window and the corner
\nof an old room.<\/p>\n
\"Presentation of the offerings takes various forms,\" Ruri
\nsaid. \"For a small ceremony for the occupation of a building, it
\nis easy. It is fine without Martini.<\/p>\n
\"But if the ceremony is big, for example like Chinese, English
\nand French weddings which usually take place on the second floor
\nfor dinner, the offering must be complete.<\/p>\n
But why the Martini and cigarettes?<\/p>\n
Ruri was not completely sure, but believed it was related to a
\npractice for the Dutch to drink the liquor and smoke during lazy
\nevenings during the colonial period.<\/p>\n
But he said that sometimes the rules could be circumvented
\nwhen circumstances required.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, it can be whatever there is on hand. We sometimes
\nalso have the tumpeng (the yellow rice cone for good fortune).<\/p>\n
\"The main aim is the safety of everyone.\"<\/p>\n
Ruri said Marmo functioned as the \"mediator\", sleeping in the
\nmuseum for two consecutive nights before the ceremony to receive
\n\"instruction\" during his dreams on what to do during the
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
Ruri acknowledged that there were those who dismissed the
\npractice as superstitious and contravening religious norms.<\/p>\n
\"That's how the Javanese describe it, but I just continue
\ndoing what has been done from the beginning, for our own good. It
\nwill come back to him anyway.\"<\/p>\n
He is not the only spiritual intervention. There is also a
\npawang (shaman), who fasts and meditates to ensure the building
\nis blessed by God.<\/p>\n
There have been strange happenings, Ruri said, when offerings
\nwere incomplete.<\/p>\n
A high school boy on a study tour of the museum fell down the
\nstairs and was left paralyzed for three years until 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Believe it or not, that's what happened. So if there will be
\nany ceremony, or program held here, we must help each other. If
\none doesn't know about something, it's better to ask the old
\nemployees here. We only try to prevent unpredictable things
\nduring the ceremony. We must be on our guard,\" Ruri said.<\/p>\n
One of the preventive measures is a tight regulation for
\nworking hours; employees are barred from working from 11:30 a.m.
\nto 1 p.m. When one employee broke the rule, he suddenly fell ill.<\/p>\n
A bottle of Martini and two cigarettes are not cheap goods,
\nSubagiyanto said. The estimation of costs is presented to the
\nplanner of the ceremonies, who must pay for them. In the past,
\nthe planner has initially balked at the expense, but later
\naccepted the decision. After all, it is the fear of the unknown
\nwhich makes the ceremony worthwhile.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/museums-offerings-to-spirits-are-shaken-not-stirred-1447893297",
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