Every nation has different way in respecting the ancestor. They also have certain ritual to respect it. This ritual is a part of tradition and culture. This time I want to make a report about some rituals to respect the ancestor. I make a limitation in my observation object only in Javanese Tradition.
Since long time ago Javanese believe that they had to respect the ancestor. They have some rituals to respect the ancestor. That ritual is still done till now, although there has been a lot of changes in the implementation. Usually, when there is a person died, Javanese held some ritual after that. That ritual held in the certain day after the day that person died such as, third days, seventh days, 100th days, 1000th days, first year, and second years. Formerly, in that ritual Javanese provide the oblation to the death person such as, food and flower. Nowadays, the way to do those rituals has changed. Since Islam come to Java, it has influenced some Javanese tradition include the rituals for ancestor. People combine between tradition and religion command. For example, when people passed away, Javanese Muslim treat the death body in Islamic way. After that they still do the rituals in those certain day, but they did not provide the oblation anymore. They have changed that part become only pray to God to ask for forgiveness to the spirit of the death body. Some of Javanese Muslim did not do those rituals because their belief not commands them to do that. Another Javanese who still believe with the tradition do both of the ritual, use Islamic way and traditional one. Modern people do this ritual simply. They did not do the ritual based on traditional way.
The other ritual that is still done by the Javanese is pilgrimage the ancestor’s graveyard. Usually, Javanese Muslim visit their ancestor‘s graveyard in the certain day such as, before Ramadan, after Ramadan or in the Idul Fitri day. They go there to pray to God for the spirit of the death body. That is also their way to respect their ancestor. It is to show that they still memorize the people who have passed away and to remind them that they will also die someday.
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
