PURWOHARJO – Fishermen living on the coast of Grajagan Beach, Grajagan village, Purwoharjo District, held a sea picking ritual yesterday (13/10). The tradition that is routinely held every month of Suro is simple but still lively yesterday (13/10).
The ritual tradition begins with a gitik procession of offerings around the village. Gitik offerings in the form of replicas of boats and mountains of agricultural products, Carnival around the village starting from the Kampung Baru Hamlet Office to the Fish Auction Place (TPI) in the hamlet of Grajagan Pantai, Grajagan village, accompanied by a marching band and gandrung art.
Chairperson of the Grajagan Beach sea picking committee, H. Nur Yasin, said the sea picking ceremony was a traditional ritual that had existed for decades. The ceremony took place from generation to generation. This activity is a form of gratitude for the coastal communities who have been given abundant marine products over the past year.
“The sea picking activity is also a form of togetherness and harmony among fishing communities on the coast of Grajagan Beach,He said. Gitik offerings containing goat's head, agricultural product, and the plantation was then dispersed into the middle of the sea, precisely around Plawangan waters.
The choice of larung offerings to Plawangan is not without reason. At that location, boats and fishing boats are often injured, resulting in fatalities. "Hopefully, with this sea picking ritual, Grajagan fishermen will be given safety and abundant harvests.","hope".
Head of Purwoharjo Sub-district, Ahmad Laini, said the sea picking momentum, the community can continue to improve togetherness in order to maintain harmony between residents. Fishermen are also asked to preserve the sea, One of them is by not throwing trash anywhere.
"I ask all citizens not to throw away trash indiscriminately in order to maintain the cleanliness and sustainability of our sea,He said. Head of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Affairs (Disperiklut) Banyuwangi, Pudjo Hartanto, who were present at the activity conveyed, port development which was previously under the authority of the district government was transferred to the provincial government and the central government.
That matter, he said, based on the Law (UU) number 23 year 2014. So that, the port development project is a bit sluggish. "Please pray that the port construction project in Grajagan will be 2017 future can be continued,he explained.
Pudjo also appealed to the fishermen's fleet and fishing gear to have a permit. Thus, will make it easier for fishermen to get help. He is also concerned that in the Grajagan Beach area there is still no cooperative that manages the fish caught by fishermen. Because cooperatives will be able to improve the welfare of fishermen.
“Hopefully this sea picking can provide an increase in marine catches, and safety for all fishermen," he concluded. (radar)
