Alexa continued that when performing rain diversion rituals, Rara prayed to the Almighty because she believed that the ritual goal would not be accomplished without His blessing. Meanwhile, the singing bowl functions as a medium to talk to the universe and neutralize the air. “The tools include incense, a burner, and red chilies and shallots. It’s just like how our grandparents used to do it. And we also pray. She also recites some prayers from other religions, such as Surah Al Fatihah, Al Falaq and An Naas when she was with me. According to our respective beliefs,” she added.
When performing rituals as a rain shaman, Rara not only prays to the Almighty but also synchronizes with the weather forecast released by the Indonesian Agency for Metrological, Climatological and Geophysics (BMKG).
“Rain shaman is a cultural heritage. People have different ways to communicate with the universe. The shouts made during the rain diversion ritual are intended to summon the gods and ancestors to help. In a normal situation, Rara wouldn’t be able to scream even if she is forced to,” explained Alexa.
She opined that people against the rain shaman practices forget about their origins, as if all kinds of offerings are considered idolatrous. “The offerings are meant to honor the gods, the ancestors. Why? Our ancestors made our steps easier. They became intermediaries between us and the universe and God Almighty,” she concluded. (eka)