Sambelia Fishermen Express Gratitude Through Roah Pesisi Traditional Ritual
Hundreds of fishermen with dozens of boats gathered to participate in the Roah Pesisi traditional ritual in Sugian Village, Sambelia District, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The boats raced against each other accompanied by traditional Gendang Beleq music in the middle of the sea.
From adults to children, participants cheered joyfully during the boat convoy to float a cow’s head in the open sea. The activities commenced with communal prayers before the procession moved towards the waters of the Gili Sulat and Gili Lawang conservation areas.
The Chairman of the Roah Pesisi Festival Committee, Lalu Mustiadi, stated that the community organises this tradition as an expression of gratitude to God for the marine resources that sustain the fishermen’s livelihoods. Residents also offered prayers for the safety of all fishermen while working at sea.
“We have conducted this tradition approximately ten times. It serves as a form of gratitude from the fishing community for the blessings bestowed by Allah SWT,” said Mustiadi on Sunday (2/7/2026).
According to Mustiadi, the core value of Roah Pesisi extends beyond the ceremonial procession. The community also enforces customary rules that prohibit all maritime activities for three days following the ritual.
During this period, fishermen are prohibited from sailing or fishing, only resuming their activities three days after the ritual’s conclusion. This rule is part of the local wisdom passed down by ancestors, aimed at providing the marine ecosystem with an opportunity to recover.
“That is where the conservation value lies. For three days, there is no activity at sea so that the ecosystem has time to recover. Our elders taught us this long ago, and we continue to practice it today,” said Mustability.
This year, the community also made an adjustment to the floating procession. While they previously used a buffalo head as part of the ritual, the committee used a cow’s head this time.
According to Mustiadi, this change followed guidance received by a traditional leader through a dream. Out of respect for this message, the community agreed to use a cow’s head for this year’s procession.
The peak of the festival featured a procession of dozens of boats circling the waters of Gili Sulat and Gili Lawang three times. Fishermen decorated their boats with banners and traditional equipment before heading to the floating point designated by the ‘Sandro’, or traditional elder.
The location for the floating ceremony is determined by the Sandro and may change annually, although the procession remains within the Gili Sulat and Gili Lawang waters.
Community enthusiasm remained high despite the economic situation not being fully recovered. This year, approximately 50 boats participated in the procession, a decrease compared to previous years which involved hundreds of boats.
Through the Roah Pesisi Festival, the Sugian community not only preserves ancestral traditions but also maintains local wisdom that connects gratitude, fisherman safety, and efforts to preserve the marine ecosystem.