Kebo - Keboan

Kebo – Keboan
  

Banyuwangi is one of the districs in East Java. There is an ethnic named Using who lived in Banyuwangi. The people who lived in the distric are mostly farmers. Especially in Alasmalang Village, Singojuruh and Aliyan Village, Rogojampi there is a special ritual that is related to agriculture are known as “Kebo-Keboan” or “Keboan. Kebo-Keboan is one of the culture which is still implemented annually by people in Banyuwangi. Kebo-Keboan is a ritual which performed more than 4 persons who is acting like they are a buffalo. They have 2 thorns, black skin and big body.

Some people believe that the ritual of Kebo-Keboan in Alasmalang has begun in the 18th century. It happened during the epidemic season in the villages. At that time, all the citizens had disease attacked. The Pests were also attacked plants and of course the farmer could not harvest their crops. Many people starved and died from mysterious illness. The people called it ‘pagebluk’ phase. In a precarious condition, the village elder named Mbah Karti meditating on the hill. During the meditation, he had vision. It contained, the residents were told to hold a ritual of Kebo-Keboan and glorify Dewi Sri or goddess of Sri, as a symbol of prosperity and rice keeper.

The miracle come when the villagers held the ritual. Sick people suddenly cured. Pests that attacked rice plants disappeared . Since then, the ritual kebo-keboan is preserved by villagers because they are afraid if the ritual is not presented, village will once again being attacked by disease and curse.

Kebo-Keboan ritual held once a year in Muharram or Suro (Javanese Calendar). This month is believed by people have megical power. The people will choose one of the date between 1 until 10 which  falls in Sunday. Sunday is chosen because usually the people don’t go to work and the students are free. So, everybody can join the ritual. The ritual will be held before the start of the rice planting season.

The purpose of the ceremony is to ask the fertility of land, abundant crops , and avoid the calamity that will befall plants and also humans who do it. As the ceremony in general, kebo-keboan ceremony in Krajan also be gradual. The stages to be followed in this ceremony are as follows: stage salvation in Petaunan; stage Ider Bumi or the procession around the hamlet Krajan; and stage-keboan kebo rituals are carried out in the rice fields Krajan Hamlet.

The preparation of ritual is begun by setting up the gate of the village which is made from crops and plant all kinds of trees in the road that will be passed by Kebo-Keboan. And women in Alasmalang together to prepare offerings consist of: cone of rice (tumpeng), water jug, kinang ayu, various porridge, inkung chicken and etc. In addition, also prepared a variety of equipment such as the cake ceremony, singkal, hoe, inflammation, pitung fresh, rice, banana, coconut and rice seedlings. All offerings are in addition to the event for safety, will also be stationed at every intersection in the Hamlet Krajan.

The ritual is begun in Petaunan. It is attended by all of the villagers in Kradjan. Implementation of the ceremony in this place is quite simple, that is just a word of welcome from the committee ceremony, followed by a prayer led by the muezzin and ended with a meal together. Pecel pithik as the main menu in the ritual. After that they together do the Ider Bumi ritual. They walk to 4 cardinal direction in the village. The participants of the ceremony consisting of villagers, two pairs or more of kebo-keboan (each kebo-keboan amounting to two people), the carrier offerings, tambourine music player, the player Krajan Barongan, and a women who act like Dewi Sri will conduct a parade ider the earth surrounding the Krajan Village. The parade begins at Petaunan. Arriving at the dam, jagatirta (water control officer) will soon open the dam so that water flows into along the way hamlet that had been planted crops by the youth. Meanwhile, the participants of the ceremony immediately headed to the rice fields owned by Hamlet Krajan. In this rice-fields-keboan kebo are starting to show similar behavior like a buffalo that was plowing or wallowing in the fields. At kebo-keboan'm wallowing, some participants of the ceremony soon fell into the fields to plant rice seed.

Once the seeds are embedded, the other participants immediately scramble to take a new rice seed was planted. The new seeds are planted it is trusted by villagers to save from disaster, to bring luck and blessings. After that, they returned to Petaunan. And the ritual is ended.

The differences between Kebo-Keboan in Alasmalang and Aliyan are in Aliyan the name of the ritual is “Keboan” not “Kebo-Keboan” and name and the history of “Keboan” is totally different with “Kebo-Keboan”. Buyut Wongso or Mbah Wongso Kenongo as the elder village of Aliyan not Mbah Karti.

Ceremony kebo Krajan-keboan in Banyuwangi if examined in depth, contains the values that in turn can be used as a reference in everyday life. These values include: companionship, care, mutual aid, and religious. Common values reflected in the gathering of most members of the community in a place, eat together and pray together for the salvation together as well. This is a form of unity in living together in their environment (in the broad sense). Therefore, this ceremony also contains common values. In this case, togetherness as a community that has a territory, customs and culture of the same. At the procession, as well as afterwards. Preparations that, not only about ritual equipment, but also a place, time, leaders, and participants. Overall it should be well prepared and thoroughly, so the ceremony can proceed smoothly. For that, it takes precision.

Cooperativeness values reflected in the involvement of various parties in organizing the ceremony. They helped one another after the implementation of the ceremony. In this case there who helped prepare food and beverages, to be master of ceremonies, and so forth.

Religious values reflected in the prayer addressed to God in order to get protection, the safety prosperity in life.