'Rainman' works his magic to keep players on course at Cengkareng
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With lightning and rain playing havoc with the schedule on the first two days of the US$1 million Standard Chartered Indonesia Open 2005, the inevitable grumbling began about the powers of the man called on to keep the elements in check.
Parallel Media Asia PR and Media manager Tan Kheng Im, who organized the mass media for the event, was among the skeptics.
"Tell me what the rainman is doing and how he got such power?" the Singaporean said.
In answering his doubters, Basar Sumarta -- called in by the organizing committee on Saturday when an early morning downpour sent players scurrying back into the clubhouse -- said other colleagues were in charge on the soggy days in question.
"One of four rainmen did not do his job well to control the weather, therefore there was lightning on Thursday and Friday and rain on Saturday," Basar told The Jakarta Post.
"Hopefully, my presence will help the situation."
It did; there was no rain on the rest of Saturday and Sunday, despite ominous gray clouds hanging overhead.
While other rainmen around the world are called upon to get the heavens to open in times of drought, Basar has focused on keeping events high and dry since 1986.
He recounted how a man came to him in a dream, telling him to fast every Monday and Thursday -- a common practice among Javanese and Sundanese to increase their spiritual awareness -- seven times in a row.
"In my dream, the old man only told me that on the last day of my fast, someone would come to me asking for help," he said.
"On the last day of my fast, a man visited my house and asked me to help prevent rain at his event."
He said he was confused by the request, but prayed to God, and the event went off without a hitch.
Basar, who lives on Jl. Lebaksari, Kelapa Dua, Banten, disavows any connection to black magic. He said he reads Koranic verses, such as Al Hud, Al Baqarah, Asmaul Husna or the Great Names of God, to assist him in his work.
His reputation has grown, and he said he was hired by private companies and also the Bogor State Palace when they had an outdoor function.
Payment ranges from Rp 300,000 to Rp 600,000 per day from companies, but he can make up to Rp 2.5 million working for the palace.
With a rare but sough-after gift, Basar has taught his five sons and four daughters his powers.
"Now all my sons and daughters can do the same thing so that the knowledge won't disappear," he said.
"But I want them to study normal sciences, like religious studies, for their future."
If some of the Indonesia Open players get the word out about Basar's amazing skills, however, the family may be more in demand than ever.
For seven of the 13 tournaments this season have been hard hit by bad weather, including this week's Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.