Tari HUDOQ

Summary

The Hudok dance is an important ritual performed by the Dayak Bahau and Dayak Modang tribes after rice planting. Rooted in their beliefs, the dance honors ancestors in Nirvana, with spirits guiding the harvest. The ritual includes a series of sacred ceremonies, starting with the napok, where a supernatural 'rower' communicates with guardian spirits. Dancers, dressed in banana leaves and wooden masks, perform movements to protect crops from pests and ensure a successful harvest. The dance emphasizes divine protection, fertility, and the power of ancestral spirits, making it a significant cultural practice for the tribe.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hudok dance is a ritual performed by the Dayak Bahau and Dayak Modang tribes after planting rice, typically between September and October.
• 😀 The dance is believed to originate from heaven and commemorates the services of ancestors in the Realm of Nirvana.
• 😀 The Dayak tribes believe their ancestors' spirits guide and protect them during the planting season.
• 😀 Asung Luhung, the Great Mother, is believed to have descended from the sky and has the ability to summon both good and evil spirits.
• 😀 The spirits, known as jeliwan Tok hudok, are assigned to meet humans but often disguise themselves.
• 😀 The Hudok dance is performed to gain strength against pests and ensure a bountiful harvest.
• 😀 There are 13 dancers in the Hudok dance, representing the 13 guardian gods, including the god Hunyang Tranquilan who protects rice plants.
• 😀 The dancers wear costumes made from banana leaves and wooden masks that resemble wild animals, symbolizing prosperity and coolness.
• 😀 The ritual begins with the napok ceremony, led by a rower who communicates with the guardian spirits of the village through a small gong.
• 😀 The rower asks the ruler of the universe for blessings and protection, especially regarding the harvest and protection from pests.
• 😀 The Hudok dancers perform specific movements, including stomping their feet and wing-like hand motions, to ward off pests and bad luck while inviting good fortune.

Q & A

What is the Hudok dance and which tribes perform it?

The Hudok dance is part of the ritual performed by the Dayak Bahau and Dayak Modang tribes. It is usually performed after planting rice, between September and October.

What is the purpose of the Hudok dance?

The Hudok dance is performed to commemorate the services of ancestors in the realm of Nirvana. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors guide and watch over their descendants during the planting season.

What do the Dayak Bahau and Dayak Modang tribes believe about their ancestors?

They believe their ancestors came from Asung Luhung, a great mother sent down from the sky. Asung Luhung has the ability to summon both good and evil spirits.

What is the significance of the name 'Hudok'?

The name 'Hudok' is associated with the Dayak Bahau and Modang communities and is tied to religious ceremonies aimed at protecting crops and ensuring fertility for a good harvest.

How many dancers participate in the Hudok dance, and what do they represent?

The Hudok dance typically involves 13 dancers, who symbolize the 13 guardian gods, including the god Hunyang Tranquilan, who protects rice plants.

What do the costumes and masks in the Hudok dance symbolize?

The dancers wear costumes made of banana leaves, symbolizing coolness and prosperity. Their wooden masks, typically dominated by red and yellow, represent the embodiment of the god Hunyang Tranquilan.

What is the Napok ritual, and how does it relate to the Hudok dance?

The Napok ritual is a sacred procession held before the Hudok dance. It is led by a person with supernatural abilities to communicate with the Hudok spirits. The ritual involves greeting the guardian spirits of the village and calling upon the ruler of the universe.

What is the role of the rower in the Napok ritual?

The rower, who has supernatural abilities, leads the Napok ritual. They communicate with the guardian spirits and the ruler of the universe, asking for protection for crops and guidance on the success of the harvest.

What is the Ugaitan ritual, and how is it performed?

The Ugaitan ritual involves drawing the life of rice, performed by the Hudok dancers who line up according to the gods' social hierarchy. While reciting mantras, they symbolically 'draw' rice life to ensure a successful harvest.

What do the movements in the Hudok dance signify?

The Hudok dance includes movements like stomping the feet and flapping hands like bird wings. These movements represent warding off pests and diseases that threaten the rice plants, with the direction of movement indicating either the removal of bad luck or the invitation of goodness.