1,580 Badui residents prepare to celebrate the 2026 Seba ritual
Lebak (ANTARA) - As many as 1,580 residents from Badui Luar and Badui Dalam in the interior of Lebak Regency, Banten, are preparing to celebrate the 2026 Seba ritual together with Lebak Regent Hasbi Asyidiki and Banten Governor Andra Soni.
The Seba ritual celebration is to express gratitude to the Almighty God for the abundance of agricultural commodity yields from the fields.
Secretary of Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar Subdistrict, Lebak Regency, Medi, stated that the number of Badui residents celebrating the Seba ritual this year is temporarily recorded at 1,580 people, but it is not impossible that it will increase because registration is still open until Friday (24/4).
According to him, they will depart using 85 Elf-type buses, while 60 Badui Dalam residents will walk to Rangkasbitung and then to Serang City, approximately 160 kilometres round trip.
The Badui Dalam community to this day still adheres to customs by travelling anywhere on foot and is prohibited from using vehicles.
Characteristics of the Badui Dalam community include distinctive white clothing, white trousers, and lomar or head covering that is also white.
Meanwhile, the Badui Luar community, with distinctive black clothing, black trousers, and blue lomar, accepts modernisation.
According to him, the first day of the Seba tradition celebration will be held at the Lebak Regency Government Pendopo on Friday (24/4) night and attended by Regent Hasbi Asyidiki along with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).
The second Seba celebration on Saturday (25/4) night will be held at the Banten Province Pendopo attended by Governor Andra Soni along with officials.
“We hope the implementation of Seba 2026 runs smoothly and safely until they return to the Badui settlement village,” he explained.
Sarmudi, a Badui Luar resident, said he feels happy to be able to celebrate Seba for maintaining silaturahim with regional heads and officials.
“We have participated in Seba for the last three years and have been able to meet with local regional heads,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) of Lebak Regency, Banten, Yosep Muhamad Holis, stated that the local government welcomes the 2026 Seba tradition by preparing stands that can be used by micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) actors around Rangkasbitung town square.
In addition to preparing stands for UMKM, he continued, as part of the Seba tradition series, several activities will also be held such as Badui woven designer fashion, talk shows, traditional games, healthy gymnastics, photo competitions, and entertainment with wayang golek and music performances.
“The Badui Seba is included in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) agenda. We hope this event will attract many tourists from both inside and outside the country,” he said.