KABAT – Popongan Village Residents, Benelan Lor Village, District of Kabat, held the 67th mass circumcision ritual yesterday (6/8). The mass circumcision ritual has been going on for years 1947. The mass circumcision is held every month of Shawwal at the age of Eid. The mass circumcision ritual was carried out for the first time in 1947 and continues until now. “Mass circumcision is an event that is always held every year and has become a hereditary tradition,"said the village head Benelan Lor, Anip Hariyadi, yesterday.
Funds used for mass circumcision activities come from non-governmental organizations. Every citizen gives a donation in the form of money. “Many donors made donations. Mass circumcision does not ask for any fees to the parents of the participants,Said Anip. Generally, the participants for mass circumcision are children who live in Popongan Hamlet, Benelan Lor Village. Children living in Popongan Hamlet are required to follow the mass circumcision which has become a tradition.
If there are families whose children are not included in the mass circumcision, then the family gets social sanctions, that is, all citizens will be excommunicated. “There was once a family whose children did not come, In the end, the family was ostracized,”Said Anip. However, Mass circumcision participants do not have to come from Popongan Hamlet, Benelan Lor Village. The committee opens their arms wide if there are participants from other villages who want to take part in the mass circumcision.
"In the past, there were participants for mass circumcision who came from Bali, Madura, even Borneo. Usually participants who come from outside the district have relatives who live here,” he added. Last year, there were fifteen children participating in mass circumcision. Every year the number of participants continues to decrease because the number of children decreases. Although mass circumcision participants have decreased, The tradition of mass circumcision will still be carried out.
This year, the mass circumcision was attended by ten children. One of the participants came from Jember, and the others are from the District of Rogojampi, Songgon, and Singojuruh. The series of mass circumcision events lasted for three days. On Monday night a village cleanup is held (ider bumi). Tuesday morning an orderly motorbike parade was held which was attended by almost all residents of Benelan Lor Village.
On Tuesday afternoon an escort was held- the accompaniment of mass circumcision participants using ornamental tricycles and followed by the general public. On Tuesday night there is an art performance created by local youth. After being circumcised, The children received gifts in the form of clothes, gloves, and some money. Anip Hariyadi is determined to maintain the tradition of mass circumcision. (radar)
