'Ujungan', blood sacrifice for rain<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono and Mamock NG, The Jakarta Post, Banjarnegara,
\nCentral Java<\/p>\n
Suparno moaned in pain as his arms and legs were beaten with a
\nrattan stick. His legs and arms were swollen from the beating.
\nThe next strike brought blood from his left leg and sent him to
\nhis back, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. Thousands
\nof spectators cheered as Suparno was led from the arena for
\ntreatment.<\/p>\n
A resident of the village of Susukan in Susukan district,
\nBanjarnegara regency, Central Java, Suparno, 37, was one of the
\nfighters in the traditional Ujungan ceremony in Banjarnegara. The
\nlocal community performs the ceremony to call forth rain during
\nlong dry spells like the current drought gripping the area.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people sign up as fighters for in this unique rain
\nceremony. The fighters endure the pain of the ceremony because it
\nis believed that the more blood is shed, the greater will the
\nchance of rain.<\/p>\n
Ujungan is always a time of rejoicing, with fighters hitting
\nand dodging to the accompaniment of gamelan music. When a fighter
\nis defeated, the referee, or welandang, calls the next contender
\nto the ring to fight the winner.<\/p>\n
Held without notice, an Ujungan is made known by word of
\nmouth. A recent ceremony in Gumelem Kulon village, Susukan
\ndistrict, began with an elderly man sitting cross-legged, facing
\nan offering on a round bamboo tray of roses, food, drinks, a
\ncharcoal stove and other objects.<\/p>\n
After burning incense on the stove, he began to chant, holding
\nout his hands with his palms upward. The man eventually completed
\nthe formalities, rose and walked to his seat. On his way, he
\nshook hands with another man, the welandang, who then approached
\nthe first two fighters in their protective gear and carrying
\nrattan sticks.<\/p>\n
The sturdy fighters each wielded rattan sticks that resembled
\npolice batons. The referee gestured to the gamelan players to
\nstart the bout. Crowds of supporters yelled encouragement to
\ntheir favorite fighters, with the noise reaching a fevered pitch
\nas the fighters began to beat each other.<\/p>\n
The fight continued until one of the men gained the upper hand
\nand beat his opponent into submission. The defeated fighter was
\nreplaced by a contender who was waiting in the wings. As a rule,
\nthese ceremonies involve at least 14 matches, which take place
\nfrom 2 p.m. to dusk.<\/p>\n
Marto Raharjo, 65, who led the Ujungan ceremony in Gumelem,
\ntold The Jakarta Post that if there were still more fighters when
\ndusk fell, the ceremony would continue the next afternoon.<\/p>\n
According to Marto Raharjo, Ujungan dates back to the 18th
\ncentury, when the area was plagued by repeated droughts. Two
\ngroups of farmers argued over the water supply for their fields,
\nending in a brawl. Refusing to make peace, they went to the
\nvillage hall to see their demang (village chief).<\/p>\n
Their chief arranged for the two groups' best men to fight
\nwith sticks.<\/p>\n
\"Whoever won was entitled to the water,\" Marto said. That
\nfirst match in a dry field was led by the demang and witnessed by
\nlocal villagers. Inevitably, the fighters' legs started belled as
\nthey traded rattan strikes, and legend has it that it started to
\nrain shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n
\"The flow of blood was seen by our forefathers as a trigger
\nfor inducing rain, and the idea of solving the water distribution
\ndispute by holding the fight has since become a ritual during the
\ndry season in Susukan,\" explained Marto. In the 1920s, gamelan
\nmusic was introduced to the ceremony when people from outside
\nBanjarnegara joined the contest, and it was given the name
\nUjungan.<\/p>\n
Since the beginning of this tradition, participants have
\nprepared for the fights by seeking supernatural powers, sometimes
\nwith the help of psychic instructors. Consequently, the fighting
\narena has also served as a means for testing the magic forces of
\nthese instructors.<\/p>\n
Contestants also visit nearby sacred places and meditate
\nbefore the Ujungan to gain physical and spiritual strength.<\/p>\n
\"When I go there, I pray not only for success but also for
\nrain and an end to the drought,\" said Suparno, who also wears a
\ngemstone from his grandfather, who was an Ujungan champion.<\/p>\n
Darkum, 40, visits magic teachers during the dry season to
\ngain strength. \"With the magic power I get from them, I feel no
\npain even when I am bleeding,\" he said, showing his bruised and
\nbloodied legs.<\/p>\n
Tarmudi, 40, who taken part in the ceremony for 15 years, said
\nhe fasted for seven days and sought psychic instruction to help
\nhim in the ritual.<\/p>\n
The day before the ceremony, Marto Raharjo, as a village
\nelder, led a thanksgiving gathering. All of those participating
\nand involved in the event, including the village head, attended
\nan evening prayer service in Marto's home.<\/p>",
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