BANYUWANGI – Banyuwangi continues to preserve and develop the traditions of its people. One of the things that continues to be repeated is the Seblang Baungan ritual, rituals of the original Using tribe in Bakungan Village, Glagah District, which was held last Sunday (26/8/2018), to be precise one week after Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Hajj at the Bakungan Village Hall.
The Seblang Baungan ritual is a series of dances performed by an old woman who is in a trance or lost consciousness. The magical dance makes this ritual an interesting spectacle that can captivate tourists, both local and foreign.
Otto Paul Draeger, one of them. This German tourist admitted that he was amazed to see this dance. “I am very entertained watching this ritual. Especially after knowing that the dancer is in a state of spirit possession. I had goosebumps,” kata Otto.
Likewise Agnes kata said, from Hungary. According to him, This tradition is thick with gotong royong. “I was impressed with the gotong royong culture of Bakungan residents. This is a tradition that must be preserved,” he said.
This year, seblang danced by Supani, an old woman 68 the year that has danced to the front for five years in a row. Supani is a descendant of Seblang Misna who has retired to become a seblang 15 last year.
In the ritual, after reading the mantra and prayer, a moment later Seblang immediately possessed a spirit and danced to the rhythm of the music that accompanies it. All night long, Seblang dancers will dance to the accompaniment of dozens of gending. Among them, a cramming frog and a lukinto.
“I hope this daffodil won't just be a performance art, but as a cultural reinforcement in Banyuwangi,” said Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas when greeting the public through the face time application from King Abdul Aziz Airport, Saudi Arabia before returning from the pilgrimage.
Banyuwangi alone, he added, consistently elevating local traditions and culture as one of the attractions of tourism. One of them is through festival events like this.
“Share Banyuwangi, Festivals are not just a way to bring in tourists, but also a way to strengthen mutual cooperation, cultural understanding and preservation. So that local traditions and culture continue to thrive in the midst of modernity,” he added.
This ritual is a village purification ceremony to give thanks to Allah and ask that all villagers be given peace, peace, security and convenience in obtaining halal sustenance, and kept away from all dangers.
Seblang itself is an abbreviation of 'sebele ilang'’ or unfortunately lost. In Banyuwangi, Seblang can be found in two places, namely the Villages of Bysari and Bakung.
Before playing, starting with a tumpeng with residents along the road to Baungan which starts after sunset. Previously, residents prayed maghrib and prayer at the village mosque. Then continued the oncor parade (obor) around the village (ider bumi). Next, under the dim fire of torches, villagers eat tumpeng together along the village road.
