Acehnese celebrate 'maulid' in unique way
By Lila Fitri Aly
JAKARTA (JP): In Aceh, customs and religion are inseparable. Islamic teachings are reflected in Acehnese tradition and are the guidelines for the Acehnese society.
The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's maulid (birthday) in Aceh is one of the ceremonies of great importance. In Rabi'ul Awal, the third month in Islamic calendar in which the prophet was born in Mecca, housewives conjure up the best foods for the celebration: rice, various kinds of dishes, fruit and cakes which can be enjoyed together. In Jakarta, the Aceh community, away from their hometown, celebrated the maulid on Sept. 3 at the Aceh pavilion of the Taman Mini (Indonesia in Miniature Park) in East Jakarta.
Tents were erected for guests who came from various circles of society to celebrate the birthday of the prophet, which coincided with April 20 of the year 570.
A stage measuring 120 square meters was decorated with predominantly golden-filigree curtains.
"Yellow, green and red are typically Acehnese colors. Yellow symbolizes royalty (Aceh was formerly a kingdom), green is for religion (Islam), and red denotes courage," said Cut Mah, a beautician who specializes in Acehnese bridal make-up.
Many attractions such as zikir (chants in praise of God the Almighty and the esteemed Prophet Muhammad) and other Acehnese arts were presented on the stage. The guests were seated on mats and carpets, the men sitting cross-legged, right in front of the stage, while the women, separated from the men, occupied the right and left sides of the stage.
On the left side of the stage, there were idang-idang, or food which was arranged in seven piles as a ritual meal. An idang is arranged in a round rattan basket with a diameter of 60 cm and a height of 125 cm. Typical Acehnese cloth with gold filigree is wrapped around the idang. For practical reasons, the idang served that day were embellished by decorative paper in yellow, green and red.
"Organizing the maulid celebration this year was a special occasion. Apart from an expression of gratitude for Indonesia's 50th independence anniversary, it was also to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Taman Iskandar Muda, the organization of Acehnese in Jakarta," said its chairman Mustafa Abubakar.
Around 5,000 people, including government officials and foreign diplomats, attended the celebration.
"With this maulid celebration, we want to show the greatness of Islam," Mustafa added.
Typically Aceh
The celebration started with zikir and was followed with selawat (prayers for Prophet Muhammad, his family and friends) by some 25 youths aged between 18 and 25. They wore yellow Acehnese shirts and trousers. They wrapped a sarong around their waists and donned a black fez on their heads. The zikir and selawat can be recited in Arabic or Acehnese.
At lunch time, the idang-idang were lowered from the stage.
"There are 80 idang here, each provides food for 50 people," said M. Zul Ali, chairman of the idang section. Each idang contributor also provided a big brass tray containing rice wrapped in banana leaves.
"An idang has a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine layers of food," said Zul Ali.
"Usually it is made of seven layers of food, because seven represents the prophet's tradition. The thawaf and sa'i, two main items of the haj rituals in Mecca, are done seven times. Likewise, a prayer service is held for a woman with a seven-month-old pregnancy," said Cut Mah.
"On each layer, there are seven bowls containing various kinds of dishes: salted eggs, chicken, fish curry, a meat dish (beef or mutton), and a dessert of fruit salad," said Ruslim Hamzah, chairman of the Institute of Acehnese Customs and Culture in Jakarta.
In Aceh, each housewife usually use their best bowls. In Jakarta, however, for practical purposes, most of the bowls used were plastic.
Everybody sat on the mats and shared the food from the idang- idang.
"This reflects equality in Acehnese society. Someone's rank may be high, but before God every human being has equal position," said Ali smilingly.
However, it does not mean that the Acehnese do not respect their guests.
"On the first (uppermost) layer of the idang, one of the bowls contains betel leaf which has been prepared with areca nuts, Uncaria gambir or gambier, and clove, ready for consumption, which is served to the guests as a token of respect," said Zul Ali.
As a beverage, cucumber juice was served.
Traditional
The Acehnese maulid celebration was copied from the one started by Sultan Salahuddin Yusuf al-Ayubi from Egypt -- who in the West is popularly called Saladin -- a Moslem warrior during the second period of the Crusades, a war between Moslems and Christians in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. On the Christian side, there were Richard I (Richard the Lion Heart, king of England), Frederick I (German emperor) and Philip II (French monarch).
"The war lasted for such a long time that it exhausted the Moslems," said Aceh Deputy Governor Zainuddin AG.
When the spirit to wage wars declined, celebrations of the prophet's maulid were held to boost the people's spirit.
In Jakarta the Acehnese traditional celebration of the prophet's started in 1982. It was initiated by Ruslim Hamzah who has been active in Jakarta's Acehnese community since many years ago.
"At that time various organizations came to me for contributions for the maulid celebrations. There were invitations from many sides, it was difficult for me to choose which one to accept. I thought then, why not coordinate them and make a grand celebration at one place for all," he said.
Since then the traditional celebration in Jakarta has been organized on a large scale.
"This kind of celebration reminds me of my village. I remember attending similar celebrations there. People were so enthusiastic. Long kilometers to walk were no problem for those who wanted to attend the maulid celebrations from one village to another," he said.
In the province, this tradition has been maintained since the advance of Islam. The maulid celebrations there are dominated by men, although they are very much supported by the women. Only men attend the celebration which is always held at village prayer hall, which is also used as a meeting place, called meunasah, the women stay at home preparing the food.
"That is part of Islamic culture," said Ruslim.
"At the celebration, women come with the best food. Since the previous harvest they have stock-piled the best rice, fat and healthy chickens and the most delicious fish," said Ruslim.
"The women vie with each other in serving the most delicious food. Even for a child's marriage the best food is served, let alone for the celebration of the prophet's birthday. All is done wholeheartedly, because of God, and for His blessings," said Cut Mah.
At 11 a.m. the housewives send the idang-idang to the meunasah. After men have gathered, they perform midday prayer then zikir which may last for two hours. While so-doing the men stamp their feet on the wooden floors of the prayer place. Finally, the ritual meal is opened by the meunasah leader. People are allowed to eat as much as they can and are allowed to bring home food for their wives and children. Of course, families who send an idang do not need the food because there is still plenty at home. Although women are not present at the hall, they can enjoy feast at home.