Rakik-Rakik Festival in Maninjau Held as a Post-Disaster Remedy

Agam (ANTARA) - Residents in the Lake Maninjau lakeside area, West Sumatra, still held the rakik-rakik (decorated raft) festival on the eve of Eid al-Fitr on Friday, even though the region was still in the recovery process following flash floods and landslides in November.

The festival, which is part of the local community’s culture, proceeded with great enthusiasm despite being participated in by only two out of the five jorong in Nagari Maninjau, Tanjung Raya Subdistrict, Agam Regency.

Wali Jorong Kubu Baru Panyinggahan, Yudha Anugrah Viligo, said that usually each jorong builds one raft, but the post-disaster conditions meant the festival was only held by his jorong and Jorong Pasa.

“Normally, since Nagari Maninjau has five jorong, each jorong has one rakik. But this year, why did the jorong still participate? Hopefully, this becomes a ‘remedy’ after the disaster, in addition to preserving the tradition,” said Yudha.

“If there wasn’t this, the eve of takbiran would feel quiet. It would feel like it’s not a holiday, making us feel even more like we’re in a disaster area,” said Riani, a resident of Kubu Baru Panyinggahan who watches the festival every year.

The boats began sailing around 10:30 PM WIB, after the ornaments were fully installed. The installation was delayed due to heavy rain that hit the area in the afternoon.

The sparkle from the lights at the front of the rafts reflected on the lake’s surface, creating a festive scene in the middle of the night. About 10 metres long, the rafts were adorned with various colourful ornaments, flags, and even miniature Minangkabau traditional houses.

The merriment intensified when a group of youths at the front of the raft played the gendang tambua tansa. The blasts of batuang or bamboo cannons occasionally deafened the ears. The bamboo was filled with calcium carbide, a greyish-black solid crystalline compound that produces acetylene gas when reacting with water.

Puja, a local resident waiting at another point, added that this tradition usually takes place over two days: the eve of takbiran and the night of the first day of Eid. According to him, the number of spectators on the first day this year was somewhat reduced, as the rafts from neighbouring jorong were not yet ready.

Nevertheless, he said the enthusiasm of the residents remained evident, as seen from the crowds that continued to arrive even as the night nearly turned to day.

“This gets busier as the night goes on; last year it went until 4 or 5 AM,” he said.