Commemorating 20 Years of the Lapindo Mudflow, Victims Hold 'Sambang Buyut' Ritual on Levee

To mark 20 years since the Lapindo mudflow disaster, victims, alongside East Java’s environmental group Walhi, held a ‘Sambang Buyut’ ritual on the levee in Siring Village, Porong Subdistrict, Sidoarjo, on Friday (29 May). The Javanese traditional ritual and interfaith prayers served as a reflection on the victims’ ongoing struggle for recovery of their living spaces. The procession started with a march on foot from Dwarakerta Park on Porong Main Road, Jatirejo Village, walking towards the top of the mud containment levee. Participants carried Javanese ceremonial offerings as symbols of respect for ancestors. Philosophically, ‘Sambang Buyut’ signifies a visit to the graves of ancestors and village founders (babat alas). Since their villages were submerged by the mudflow two decades ago, residents have struggled to maintain this tradition due to displacement across various relocation areas. Harwati, a Lapindo mudflow victim, explained that this ritual intentionally adopted Javanese traditions to include all victims regardless of religious background. ‘For 20 years, we’ve typically held religious istigasah prayers. This time, we’re trying a Javanese approach as we remain Javanese in identity,’ Harwati said. Harwati added that the offerings carried to the levee symbolise ‘souvenirs’ from descendants to ancestors. She hopes the event will become an annual tradition to reunite the scattered victim communities. ‘My hope is that in future years, we can gather again with fellow victims, pray together, and revive the rituals once regularly performed in our villages before we were displaced,’ she said. Concurrently, the 20th anniversary marked a moment for victims to voice stalled efforts in restoring their basic rights. They stated that beyond physical displacement, bureaucratic hurdles continue to impede their recovery. Key issues include unclear civil registration status and loss of voting rights in past elections due to the disappearance of their original village administrative boundaries. On the 20th anniversary of the mudflow, victims sent a letter to President Prabowo Subianto demanding payment of Rp1.5 trillion in compensation through a special presidential decree. Around 300 Lapindo mudflow victims held Eid al-Fitr prayers for 1447 Hijri on vacant land beside Nurul Azhar Mosque in Jatirejo Village, Porong Subdistrict, Sidoarjo. After 19 years of the mudflow and multiple government changes, they place hope in Prabowo.