Custom holds sway over romance among the Aga
Custom holds sway over romance among the Aga
Jagadhita, Contributor/Denpasar
Love may be a private matter for many of us, but not for the Aga
people of Tenganan Pegringsingan village in Manggis, Karangasem,
about 85 kilometers from Denpasar.
The Aga's custom dictates that only people of the same group
can marry, and couples must make their living in their own
village. Violating this custom will surely lead to exile and
restitution.
The Aga people are believed to be the first inhabitants of the
island of paradise. Their culture is of prehistoric origin and
precedes the arrival of Hinduism to Bali.
Nengah Wartawan, a former village chief and custom leader,
said nobody knew the rationale behind the endogamy.
"It is obscure; even my predecessor could not provide an
answer, (he) only said it is a tradition that has been passed
down by our ancestors," he said.
No matter how fast the world changes today, Nengah said the
Aga people must stick to the custom, although it must be
difficult for highly educated people.
"It is actually ironic, because due to the changing times,
many people opt to pursue their education outside the village.
Therefore, it is difficult to prevent any breach of this custom,"
he explained.
According to the custom, a woman who marries a man from
another village will be cast out of her birthplace, and her
parents will be obligated to pay compensation for her violation
for the rest of their lives.
"The amount of the fine is actually not high, only Rp 100,000
(US$11) a year, but the daughter will be driven away from the
village; she will not be recognized as a resident of the village,
which is quite a harsh punishment," Nengah said.
The union, however, will not affect the family ties between
the woman and her parents.
On the other hand, a man who marries a woman from another
village will be allowed to stay in his village, provided that his
wife comes from a higher caste.
However, he will be temporarily deprived of his rights as a
village resident and will be banned from owning land in his own
village. For example, he will not have rights to a share of the
crop from village lands.
"After the couple has a child, the punishment is annulled.
Their children will have rights as a village resident, including
the right to receive a sack of rice every week from land that is
managed by the village," Nengah said.
The Aga people work on a spacious plot of land in the eastern
part of the village. The harvest is often large enough to feed
the entire village, and a family is entitled to a weekly ration
of a sack of rice until the next harvest.
Nengah personally feels that the custom of endogamy is not
fair.
"But that's the custom that must be obeyed by Tenganan
Pegringsingan villagers," said Ketut Sumiartini, a resident of
Tenganan Pegringsingan.
"I simply respect what has been set, and respect my parents.
Any way, my soul mate is in God's hands," said the young woman,
who makes a living as a weaver.
Sumiartini, who is still single, said the custom limited her
freedom and discouraged her from traveling outside the village,
as it banned people from working anywhere other than their own
village.
"However, it is my destiny to live in an environment like
this, and I must observe it," she said.
The custom also determines dress: It says people must wear
traditional clothing when venturing outside their homes. In
addition, Aga men must carry a saselet, a small traditional
dagger, as an accessory.