LOCATION OF Mbah Kopek's water source in the middle of the rice fields of Sumberjoyo Hamlet, Desa Kumendung, Muncar District. To get to that place one has to pass the public cemetery. Nevertheless, not hard to find, because the place is already famous.
The name of Mbah Kopek's spring is certainly a little strange to the ear. From a developing story, the name is the ancestor who founded the village. Mbah Kopek's grave is not far from the location of the water source. Mbah Kopek's market is also quite well known.
So far, pilgrims from various regions in the country have often visited. Even, it is almost certain that every Friday Legi night the place is filled with pilgrims complete with tumpeng. "If you have a desire", residents often hold feasts at Mbah Kopek's source,”Said Ki Joko Gondrong, local elders.
The celebration of the feast in the pesarean complex, which is located close to the source of Mbah Kopek, is a manifestation of the culture inherited from the ancestors, known as the goodbye tradition.. Like a child going to school, they say goodbye and ask for blessing.
"There is no other intention, just a celebration event and preserve the culture of saying goodbye to ancestors,” he added. Even though the sun is scorching, around the location of Mbah Kopek's source, it's still shady and cool. Understood, in that place still standing firmly three big trees, namely two banyan trees and one towering bendo tree.
The location of Mbah Kopek's water source is also quite wide, enough for car and motorbike parking. On the right side of the entrance there is a cemetery and on the east side of the entrance there are two gazebos under which the river flows from Mbah Kopek's water source..
Access to Mbah Kopek spring is very easy, and has built stairs with a height of about four meters. When viewed from above, which looks like a house-like building. However, if you approach it under the house-like building, the source flows from between the rocks around the tree.
“Built like a pond and given a roof to keep the source clean and not polluted,"said Subahrudin, 45, local people. The existence of Mbah Kopek's water source is very well maintained. Especially, the place is never empty of visits from residents.
Those who come are not only from Banyuwangi, but also many from outside the area, like Bali, Kediri, Yogyakarta, Lampung, Borneo, and various other regions in Indonesia. Mbah Kopek's clear and clean water source flows fast even though in the long dry season it is widely used by residents for various needs.
Even, so clear, many residents take clean water, drink it directly without cooking. “The water is fresher than the branded bottled water sold in stores,said Subahrudin. If the dry season is prolonged, local residents also do a tradition called cat mantu.
That ritual, also carried out at Mbah Kopek's water source. Mantu cats executed residents, it's like a bride. The mantu cat procession began by marching a pair of male and female cats around the village with two stretchers carried by the villagers.. The cat wedding parade, then stop around Mbah Kopek's market complex.
In this place, a pair of cats carried to the spring. After arriving at the water source, brackets (cage) the cat is opened and then plunged into the pool together with the bridesmaids. The ritual is the peak of the cat's in-laws which is said to be able to bring blessings in the form of rain.
“Tradition is like that, and has been going on for generations," he explained. Mbah Kopek's source of water that never subsides, by residents of Kumendung Village and Sumbersewu Village, Muncar sub-district was also created to irrigate rice fields. "The area of agriculture that can be fed from Mbah Kopek's water source is approx 49 hectare,"said the head of Kumendung village, Mohammad Husaini. (radar)
