Tabot fiesta to mark Islamic New Year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 100,000 tourists are expected to descend
\non Bengkulu, the capital of the southern Sumatran province of the
\nsame name, for the Tabot Festival from April 27 to May 7.<\/p>\n
This unique festival will feature dozens of tabot effigies,
\ngrand gold-plated wooden boxes weighing between 200 kg and 1.5
\ntons each and symbolizing their owners' regal status.<\/p>\n
It will also include an effigy of the buraq,, believed by some
\npeople a heavenly creature and others a chariot of angels, which
\ncarried the Prophet Muhammad to God's presence through the Seven
\nHeavens.<\/p>\n
Organized by the Bengkulu provincial tourism office, the
\nannual festival is held to mark Islamic New Year, or the first
\nday of Muharram, which falls on April 28 this year.<\/p>\n
In the Javanese calendar, Muharram is called Sura or Suro.
\nMuharram 1, 1419 of the Islamic calendar is Suro 1, 1931, the
\nJavanese New Year. The difference in the calendar system explains
\nthe difference in the number of years.<\/p>\n
The coming festivities in Bengkulu are expected to attract
\n7,500 foreign tourists and 90,000 locals. Last year, the event
\ndrew more than 7,200 foreigners and some 80,000 locals, according
\nto Maktal P. Wiryokusumo, publisher of the sponsoring tourism
\nmagazine Cakrawala Pariwisata.<\/p>\n
He said the local government and the people of the city of
\nBengkulu had contributed some Rp 200 million (US$27,000) for the
\nfestivities.<\/p>\n
The Tabot festival is held to commemorate the martyrdom of
\nImam Hussain, a son of Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib and Fatimah Zahra,
\nwho was Prophet Muhammad's daughter. Ali was the fourth caliph
\nand his followers are called Shiite.<\/p>\n
Hussain and his tiny army of supporters took up arms against
\nKing Yazid of the Umayyad Dynasty and at the battle of Karbala,
\nsouthwest of Baghdad, the third Shiite imam and his many
\nfollowers were brutally massacred by the overwhelming forces of
\nYazid. It took place on the 10th night of Muharram.<\/p>\n
Hussain is greatly revered by followers of both the Sunni and
\nShiite branches of Islam.<\/p>\n
The festival in Bengkulu will begin with a soul-picking ritual
\nat Nala and Tapak Padri beaches, in the north of the province, on
\nApril 27. This symbolizes the collection of Hussain's head and
\narms that were cut off in the battle.<\/p>\n
This is followed by the \"battlefield\" visiting ceremony at
\nTengah Padang and Berkas, south of the city of Bengkulu, with a
\nfight between two warring teams, Dol and Tassa. This is followed
\nby a procession of the turban.<\/p>\n
The Tabot Dance Contest follows on April 29, the finger-
\nwashing ceremony on May 2, its parade on May 4, the parading of
\nthe turban on May 5, and the climax of the festival, the burning
\nof the two primary Bengkulu tabot effigies in the closing
\nceremony on May 6. The remains will be thrown into the sea the
\nfollowing day.<\/p>\n
According to Malay history, a Tabot festival was first held in
\n1685 by Sheikh Burhanuddin, the chief of Pariaman port in west
\nSumatra. Burhanuddin, who was a son of the King of Malacca, in
\npresent day Malaysia, played an important role in the propagation
\nof Islam in West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Tabot festivities will also take place in other places,
\nincluding Pariaman, West Sumatra; Pidie, Aceh; Gresik and
\nBanyuwangi, East Java.<\/p>\n
In Bengkulu, only two-star hotels are available. \"But
\notherwise, the infrastructure is good,\" Maktal said.<\/p>\n
For tourists wanting to witness the festivities, local
\nairlines Merpati Nusantara and Mandala will fly people from
\nJakarta to Bengkulu daily.<\/p>\n
The former also has flights from Palembang, South Sumatra, to
\nBengkulu every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n
More information about the festival is available from the
\nBengkulu provincial tourism office (0736 31272) and Cakrawala
\nmagazine (021 829-1040). (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tabot-fiesta-to-mark-islamic-new-year-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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