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