The tradition of 'The Long Road' The Fasting Month Welcomes Bonokeling

Arbi Anugrah/detikcom

Banyumas- The heat of the hot sun and dust floating through the vehicle when not to step foot kejawen hundreds of followers to come up with a short walk to the tomb in the village Bonokeling Pakuncen, Jatilawang district, Banyumas, Central Java.


They call Bonokeling Indigenous Communities, a community with a myriad traditions were maintained and preserved. Until now recorded Bonokeling followers about 5 thousand people, spread across a number of sub-districts in Cilacap as Adipala, Kroja, Sidareja. Although distance separated, this community continues to establish communication with a ritual tradition.

By using Javanese clothes, they walk tens of kilometers and carry a variety of crops dipundaknya borne by men and women picked up by the village head Pakuncen.

Occasionally they unwind while resting under a shady tree while straightening the legs, lay down until it's time to continue the journey. Winding uphill road and not be a hindrance to them.

Upon entering the border Cilacap and Banyumas, they come back rested, after that all crops are borne men handed over to the caretaker bedogol or helpers or leaders of groups in Bonokeling.

"When the border was no handover ritual, of guests who came on leave to each bedogol. Afterwards guests stayed to continue the journey alone," said customs spokesman Pakuncen Village, Sumitro told reporters Wednesday (07/04/2013 ).

According to him, this ritual is usually done before the coming fasting month and has been handed down for several centuries, before parents can call this culture with the procession of the growing season.

"But when Islam came, the procession upload Sadranan equated with the usual ritual to visit ancestral graves and clean up before the fasting month," he said.