Ritual strengthens Muslim-Christian ties

Ritual strengthens Muslim-Christian ties

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Mamala, Central Maluku

Thousands of residents from every corner of Ambon municipality
and its vicinity gathered on Tuesday in Mamala and Morela
subdistricts here.

Incessant rain did not dampen the spirit of these people, who
wished to witness directly the pukul manyapu ritual (whipping by
villagers using brooms made of split coconut leaf ribs) in a
field somewhere in the border of the two subdistricts.

Mamala and Morela, located some 35 kilometers north of Ambon,
can be reached overland in about 45 minutes from Ambon.

Pukul manyapu has been an annual ritual, celebrated on every
7th day of the month of Syawal in the Islamic calendar, or seven
day after Idul Fitri. The ritual, full of religious nuance, is
packaged attractively and performed by youths from both villages.

In the function, they are divided into two groups and will
whip their "opponents'" bodies with brooms, which will eventually
cause wounds all over their bodies. After the attraction, the
bodies of all those participating in the function will be
anointed all over with coconut oil that has been blessed with
verses from the Koran.

The oil used has restorative power to heal the wounds, which
will leave absolutely no scars on the body.

The function dates back to Dutch colonial times. The story
began in the 17th century, when Dutch invaders, in their pursuit
of spices, were locked in a war with the indigenous people. This
was known as the Kapahaha war.

Heavily armed Dutch colonialists eventually won the war, and
for security reasons, they drove out local residents from a
strategic mountain area to build a new settlement in coastal
areas.

The residents, who professed Islam, then descended from the
mountains and built villages along the coast. Along with them,
they also built mosques in their new settlements.

The story has it that, while a mosque construction was under
way, the main pillar suddenly collapsed without warning.

The incident forced the customary and religious leaders,
consisting of Imam (the head) Tuni of the mosque, head of
customary rule Mamala Latulehu and chief mosque builder
Patikiambessy, to convene a meeting and discuss the incident.

The meeting concluded that Imam Tuni had to pray and ask for
Allah's (God) divine guidance for completion of the mosque.

While he slept one night, according to folklore, Imam Tuni was
approached by an old man who asked him not to worry.

The man advised him to smear the damaged pillar with coconut
oil, which had been blessed with verses from the holy Koran, and
then wrap it up in white cloth.

Imam Tuni told Latulehu of his peculiar experience, and he was
advised by Latulehu to do exactly what the old man had urged him
to do.

One night, the wooden pillar was smeared with the coconut oil
and wrapped in white cloth. The next day, the white cloth was
removed and the broken pillar was already repaired. The ointment
was later known as Minyak (oil) Tasala or Mamala oil.

From then on, the descendants of Imam Tuni have been making
the ointment for curing wounds. It is believed that it will
possess even stronger restorative powers if it is made on the eve
of 7 Syawal or the seventh day after Idul Fitri.

"After the wooden pillar was miraculously restored, Tasala oil
was later tested on humans, firstly, by whipping the whole body
with a broom made of coconut leaf ribs until it was wounded.

Cuts on the skin caused by the whipping were later smeared
with the ointment and the wounds later healed, leaving no scars.
The event was then celebrated as an annual event on 7 Syawal,"
said Mamala Abdul Karim Hatuwala, a community leader.

The ritual, which occurs only in the two villages in Maluku,
is an attractive spectacle as it draws visitors from other areas.

Besides local visitors, the attraction also draws foreign
tourists. But since the bloody sectarian conflict in 1999, only
local visitors would attend.

As sectarian conflict had recently subsided, the annual event
was more lively this year compared with the last four.

Thousands of local Muslims and Christians were seen gathering
together on Tuesday, watching the ritual without being suspicious
of one another. Besides visitors from other areas, the function
was also thronged by residents from desa pela or a fraternal
village, who are usually Christians.

The residents included people from Waai, whose residents are
Christians.

Reconciliatory nuances at the function were strengthened with
the celebratory theme, "We are brothers, and with our custom and
tradition let's build a new Maluku, in a fraternal atmosphere."

Apart from the residents, also present at the ritual on
Tuesday were top leaders in Maluku. They were Maluku governor
Karel Albert Ralahalu, chief of Pattimura military command
overseeing Maluku Maj. Gen. Agustadi, speaker of the legislature
Zeth Sahuburua, Ambon mayor MJ Papilaja and Central Maluku regent
Abdullah Tuasikal.

After the event, Governor Ralahalu said, the ritual would
enrich the culture of the territory and the nation. It also
showed that Mamala and Morela possessed a unique and
extraordinary tradition that had to be preserved.

"This tradition has to be maintained; what's impressed me most
about this celebration is that it can also be a moment of
reconciliation between Muslims and Christians, who were once
locked in bitter conflict," he said.