Jakarta, IO – The butchering and dedication of sacrifice animals like buffaloes, cattle, goats, and sheep during Eid-el-Adha makes the day also called “Hari Raya Kurban” or “Day of Sacrifice” among Indonesians. As a majority muslim country comprising of multiple islands stretched widely along the Equator, Indonesia has many different ways of celebrating Eid-el-Adha across the archipelago – and not all of them involving the butchering and sacrificing of animals.
According to beritasatu, Wednesday (28/06/2023), one of these interesting traditions is the Grebeg Gunungan celebrated in Yogyakarta. It is performed by parading three gunungans or piles of fruit and vegetable crops from the Keraton or Palace of Yogyakarta to the Masjid Gede Kauman or the Kauman Great Mosque.
The gunungans symbolize blessings from the Kagungan Dalem Inner Yard of the Great Mosque, the Pendopo Kawedanan Pengulon or the Western Great Hall of the Wedana Office, and the Kepatihan or Prime Minister Office and the Puro or the City itself. After the parade, the people will strive to get a piece of the gunungan. A successful grab or grebeg means that the person and their family will be blessed and prosperous throughout the rest of the Javanese year.
Another unique tradition is the Gamelan Sekaten celebrated in Cirebon. Introduced by Islamic missionary Sunan Gunung Jati, it is performed every year during celebrations of Eid-el-Fitr, Eid-el-Adha, and Maulid Nabi Muhammad SAW or the Birth of Prophet Muhammad. It starts with the sounding of the Gamelan located in the Keraton Kasepuhan or Ancient Palace of Cirebon to mark the Day of Victory during Eid-el-Fitr, and to mark the Day of Sacrifice during Eid-el-Adha. The samelan sounds right after the end of the respective Eid day prayers.
Meanwhile, Pasuruan has its Manten Sapi tradition, which expresses gratitude and respect to the butchered animals who will serve as sacrifice. The sacrificial animals are bathed with a mixture of water and flowers, the kembang setaman water, and then made up like a bride or bridegroom. After that, they are further decorated with a garland of kembang setaman (“all the flowers that make a complete garden”) or kembang tujuh rupa (“seven different flowers”), a shroud, a turban, and a sajadah prayer rug that symbolize the animal’s purification.
Read: Mepe Kasur, Ancient Tradition Of The Osing Nearing Eid-El-Adha
Once the dressing up is completed, the cows are paraded from the stall to the mosque, handed over to the Sacrifice Committee at the mosque, and then butchered. The festivity ends with the people of Pasuruan, especially the poor, having a feast with the meat from the sacrifice.
Oddly, the predominantly Hindu region of Bali also has its own Eid-el-Adha tradition. Even though muslims are a minority here, they still celebrate the Eid with their ngejot tradition to express unity and tolerance between different religious faiths. After having made their sacrifice, the Balinese muslim community share side dishes, beverages, and fruit to their immedate non-muslim neighbors to express their gratitude towards Allah and these neighbors. (un)