Inilah Kebo-Keboan, Tradisi Unik Masyarakat Banyuwangi yang Berubah Menjadi Kerbau

Summary

Kebo-keboan is a unique tradition of the Osing tribe in Banyuwangi, where people dress as buffaloes to celebrate a bountiful harvest and pray for future prosperity. Participants smear themselves with a black liquid made from oil and charcoal, wear artificial horns and bells, and pull a plow while accompanied by traditional music. The tradition traces back to a 18th-century story involving an epidemic and guidance from God to restore harmony between humans, nature, and God. Kebo-keboan symbolizes gratitude, environmental balance, and a simple, eco-friendly lifestyle.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Kebo-keboan is a traditional ceremony performed by the Osing tribe in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, where people dress up as buffaloes.
• 😀 The ceremony involves humans smearing themselves with a black liquid made from oil and charcoal, wearing artificial horns, and bells around their necks.
• 😀 Participants in the ceremony pull a plow and parade around the village, accompanied by typical Banyuwangi music.
• 😀 The Kebo-keboan ceremony serves as a form of gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest and a prayer for an even better harvest in the following year.
• 😀 The tradition originates from the 18th century, beginning with the story of great-grandfather Karti of Alas Malang village.
• 😀 The village of Alas Malang suffered from an epidemic that killed anyone who contracted it, leading to the guidance of God for a village cleaning ceremony.
• 😀 According to legend, the villagers were asked to transform into buffaloes and plow the fields in the traditional way to end the epidemic.
• 😀 The Kebo-keboan tradition became a hereditary event for the people of Alas Malang, held annually in the month of Suro (Muharram) on the Javanese calendar.
• 😀 The ceremony symbolizes the harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and God, highlighting gratitude for God's gifts.
• 😀 The Kebo-keboan ceremony also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the balance of nature and living a simple, environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Q & A

What is the Kebo-Keboan ceremony?

Kebo-Keboan is a traditional ceremony performed by the Osing tribe in Banyuwangi, where humans dress up like buffaloes, smearing their bodies with black liquid, wearing artificial horns and bells, and pulling a plow around the village while accompanied by music.

What is the purpose of the Kebo-Keboan ceremony?

The ceremony is a form of gratitude to God for an abundant harvest and a prayer for a better harvest the following year. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and God.

Why do participants in the Kebo-Keboan ceremony smear their bodies with black liquid?

The black liquid, made from oil and charcoal, is used as part of the transformation process, where participants, dressed as buffaloes, embody the spirit of the animal in the ceremony.

How are participants in the Kebo-Keboan ceremony dressed?

Participants wear artificial horns, bells around their necks, and smear their bodies with black liquid made from oil and charcoal to resemble buffaloes.

What is the historical origin of the Kebo-Keboan tradition?

The tradition began with a story about Great-grandfather Karti, an ancestor in Alas Malang village, Banyuwangi, who, guided by God, organized a ceremony to cure an epidemic by having villagers transform into buffaloes and plow the fields.

When is the Kebo-Keboan ceremony held?

The ceremony takes place every year in the month of Suro (Muharram in the Javanese calendar).

What is the significance of the Kebo-Keboan ceremony to the community?

The ceremony represents gratitude for God's blessings, especially in terms of harvest, and serves as a reminder to maintain the balance of nature through a simple, environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

How does the Kebo-Keboan ceremony reflect the relationship between humans, nature, and God?

The ceremony highlights the importance of humans living in harmony with nature and God, maintaining gratitude for nature’s abundance, and seeking blessings for future prosperity.

What role do music and the plow play in the ceremony?

The music accompanies the participants as they walk around the village, while pulling a plow symbolizes the traditional agricultural practices and the connection between humans and the land.

What does the legend of Great-grandfather Karti teach about the origins of the Kebo-Keboan ceremony?

The legend emphasizes the importance of divine guidance and community action in overcoming adversity, with the ceremony serving as a communal response to the epidemic and a means of ensuring future agricultural success.