TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The total lunar eclipse and the super blue moon phenomena are just one day ahead. People celebrate this natural lunar phenomenon in so many ways. Some choose to observe it for scientific reasons, some immortalize it through their love for photography, and some also conduct spiritual activities.
Here are four old traditions in Indonesia that are practiced in welcoming a lunar eclipse.
1. Pounding rice grains
The people of Java who believe in a myth about an evil giant named Batara Kala that will swallow the moon will practice the tradition of pounding rice grains. It has become a symbol of beating the Batara Kala, forcing the creature to feel nauseated and spit out the moon.
2. Hitting the kentongan or gong
The Dayak tribe will sound the gong during a lunar eclipse. Other than gongs or kentongan, they will also continuously hit other objects that can create sounds to make the moon reappear. The people of Dayak believe that lunar eclipses happen because the supernatural being Ruhu has swallowed the moon.
Read: The Differences Between Lunar Eclipses Supermoon Bluemoon
3. Making Liwet Rice
This ceremony is usually practiced by the Javanese, especially by pregnant women. They would cook rice with relatives during a lunar eclipse. Village elders will usually order them to bite on a piece of roof tile while rubbing their belly. Children who are present at the ceremony will be told to hang onto trees where the ceremony is held, all of this is done in hopes for pregnant women to give birth to flawless babies.
4. Stealing the neighbor’s rice
The people of Bugis welcome the lunar eclipse by stealing neighbor’s rice grains. The amount of rice that they steal is limited to a handful. It is said to be the Bugis ancestral heritage especially for those living in Bone District. The people who get their rice supply stolen uniquely do not get angry by this practice since everyone will participate in this ancient tradition. The stolen rice are usually turned into face powders that are believed to help beautify women who put it on their faces.
Lani Diana Wijaya
