Assigntment 3 : Report Text " Tradition Rebo Wekasan"

              Tradition Rebo Wekasan

   Rabu Wekasan is a ritual tradition that is carried out on the last Wednesday of the month of Shafar, in order to invoke protection from Allah Almighty from various kinds of disasters that will occur on that day. This tradition has been going on for generations among the people of Java, Sunda, Madura, etc.

   The form of Rebo Wekasan rituals includes four things, prayers reject reinforcements , pray with special prayers,drinking talisman water,and  salvation, alms, silaturrahin, and doing good to others. In various regions in Indonesia, not only Javanese people, Rebo Wekasan has meaning and has a way of implementing it. This tradition is very diverse, each regions has the its own meaning and philosophy.

1. Rebo Wekasan, Cirebon

  Keraton Kanoman Cirebon also runs the tradition of Rebo Wekasan with its own uniqueness. There are several series in this ritual. People will pray and bathe in the river. Then in the palace itself there is tawurji and ngemem.

  Tawurji is a ritual of throwing coins to the public. This is done to refuse reinforcements by sharing fortune with less fortunate citizens. In addition to money, the palace also shared apem. This snack is chosen because it is a symbol of humans being given a test.

2. Rebo Pungkasan, Wonokromo-Bantul-Jogja

  Wonokromo Village, Pleret Subdistrict, Bantul Regency, Jogja refers to this sacred day as Rebo Pungkasan. In Javanese, pungkasan means ‘end’. So on the last Wednesday in the Safar Month, residents held a series of events to reject reinforcements.

  

  This activity is generally held at the Wonokromo Village Hall which is often attended by the Regent of Bantul. Because this event is indeed a part of the culture in this region. The specialty of the Pungkasan Rebo is the presence of a giant lemper with a length of about 2.5 meters and a width of approximately 0.5 meters. His presence is increasingly attracting attention because this lemper must be driven from the Al-Huda Karanganom Mosque to the Wonokromo Village Hall. Then these snacks are cut to be distributed to residents.

3. Rabu Abeh, Aceh

  The people of Aceh who carry out the tradition of Rebo Wekasan or also called Abeh Wednesday will go to the beach, river, and bath. 

   Safar itself is trusted as  with a hot weather that is able to bring illness and other disasters. So that they perform the ritual of repelling reinforcements by way of prayer led by local leaders. Continued feasting on rice in a wrapper and side dish in the form of fish. Did not stop there, they also clean themselves by bathing in rivers, beaches, or baths. Aims to shed everything in the body that can invite reinforcements. This traditional ceremony can be witnessed in several places, one of which is Krueng Nagan.

4. Robo-robo, Kalimantan Barat

  Robo-Robo is a term for the tradition of Rebo Wekasan which is carried out by residents of West Kalimantan, precisely around the Kuala Mempawah river. Aside from being a place to repel reinforcements, this ceremony was held also to welcome the month of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

 Robo-robo was held quite lively with a variety of various agendas. Among them do'a and eat together with a typical menu of West Kalimantan including shrimp lemongrass sauce, spicy sour fish, bingke, sangon, and jorong.

 Then proceed with the banning of various types of food into the river. That is a form of prayer for God to always be kept away from disaster and given a blessing.

5. Petik Laut, Banyuwangi

  Banyuwangi residents who carry out the tradition of Rebo Wekasan with Sea Picking, like in Bulusan Beach. This activity is carried out so that fishermen avoid disaster, be given safety while at sea, and get spilled catch.Sea Picking is marked by a ban on offerings containing a variety of snacks ranging from market, polo pendem to goat's head. Drifting offerings is a symbol of getting rid of reinforcements and disease. The procession was accompanied by the Gandrung dance.

 Rebo Wekasan tradition is a form of preserving culture and belief to avoid disaster.