PESTA PARA NELAYAN

Summary

The Nadran festival at Muara Angke is a vital maritime tradition for local fishermen, celebrating gratitude for their safety and bountiful catches. The event features a ritual procession where fishermen offer food, including symbolic buffalo heads, to the sea in hopes of prosperity. The festival also brings together local residents, fostering a sense of community. With the current challenges of weather and fuel costs, the fishermen share their experiences, and the festival underscores the interconnection between culture, economy, and the sea. The event is a prayer for safety, abundance, and a flourishing livelihood for all involved.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Muara Angke fishermen celebrate Pesta Laut, a maritime festival that includes the Nadran ritual, as an expression of gratitude for safety and a bountiful catch.
• 😀 The Nadran ritual involves the preparation of traditional dishes, such as rice, vegetables, and fruits, with a buffalo head wrapped in white cloth as a symbolic offering to the sea.
• 😀 Fishermen and their families, as well as local residents of Muara Angke, actively participate in the festival, highlighting the community's strong cultural connection to the sea.
• 😀 The ritual is conducted by placing the prepared offerings on small boats, which are then taken out to sea to be cast into the water as part of the celebration.
• 😀 The Nadran festival is held for the first time since 2018, with multiple boats carrying offerings being sent out to the sea this year.
• 😀 Fishermen like Datim Tekong, captain of the KM SAP38 boat, share their experiences of fishing challenges, including fluctuating catch results and the increasing cost of fuel.
• 😀 The fishing routes are divided into three zones based on distance from the shore, with different boat sizes assigned to each zone according to regulations.
• 😀 The Nadran ritual also plays a significant role in the local economy, as it involves various types of businesses, such as seafood, groceries, and local shops, benefiting from the festival.
• 😀 The community believes that the water used in the Nadran ritual brings blessings, contributing to the prosperity of local businesses like grocery stores and food stalls.
• 😀 The overarching hope of the Nadran festival is for the safety and well-being of the fishermen, as well as for the continued success and prosperity of their fishing activities.
• 😀 The festival serves as a means to honor the sea, with the local community coming together to support one another and ask for abundant catches and good health for all involved.

Q & A

What is the Nadran ceremony, and why is it celebrated?

The Nadran ceremony is a traditional sea festival celebrated by the fishermen of Muara Angke. It is a way for the community to express gratitude for their safety and the abundance of fish they have caught. The central ritual involves offering food, including a buffalo head wrapped in white cloth, to the sea as part of the thanksgiving.

What kind of food is prepared for the Nadran ceremony?

The food prepared for the Nadran ceremony includes common foods like rice, vegetables, fruits, and the symbolic buffalo head. These foods are offered as part of the ritual, reflecting the fishermen's gratitude for a successful harvest.

How are the offerings presented during the Nadran ceremony?

The offerings, including the symbolic buffalo head and other food items, are gathered on small boats specifically made for this purpose. These boats are then sent to the middle of the sea as part of the ritual, where the offerings are released into the water.

What is the significance of the buffalo head in the Nadran ceremony?

The buffalo head, wrapped in white cloth, is a symbol of the Nadran ritual. It represents a form of gratitude and a traditional offering to the sea, invoking protection and prosperity for the fishermen and their families.

How do the fishermen prepare for the Nadran ceremony?

The fishermen prepare for the Nadran ceremony by organizing the food offerings and decorating their boats. The ritual involves prayers and blessings, with the local spiritual leader (Kuncen) offering prayers for safety and prosperity before the offerings are set afloat.

What challenges do fishermen face in their profession, according to the script?

Fishermen face various challenges, including difficult weather conditions, rising fuel prices, and fluctuating fish stocks. These challenges make fishing more difficult and less predictable, requiring the fishermen to work long hours and travel long distances to catch enough fish.

How far do the fishermen need to travel to fish, and what regulations do they follow?

Fishermen from Muara Angke must travel at least 100 days at sea, covering distances of up to 150 miles from the coast. They follow the regulations outlined in the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries' Regulation No. 18 of 2021, which divides fishing zones based on the size of the boats and the distance from the shore.

What are the different fishing zones outlined in the regulation?

The regulation divides fishing zones into three categories: Zone 1 (0 to 4 miles from shore) for small boats with a maximum capacity of 5 gross tons; Zone 2 (4 to 12 miles) for boats between 5 and 30 gross tons; and Zone 3 (beyond 12 miles) for large boats exceeding 30 gross tons.

How does the Nadran ceremony impact the local economy?

The Nadran ceremony plays a significant role in the local economy by involving various businesses in the preparation of the ritual. Miniature boats, buffaloes, and other supplies needed for the ceremony are sourced from local businesses, creating an economic chain that supports the community's livelihoods.

What is the cultural significance of Nadran to the people of Muara Angke?

Nadran holds deep cultural significance as it is not only a way to express gratitude for the sea's bounty but also a way to unite the community. It symbolizes the interdependence between the fishermen, the sea, and the broader community, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and mutual support.