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Wednesday, 09 May 2018 14:08

Nyangku Tradition in Panjalu Village

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Nyangku traditional ceremony is a tradition which has existed since the Kingdom of Panjalu. Until now, the tradition is still conducted every year by Panjalu people. The Nyangku tradition is carried out on  Monday or Thursday of the month of Maulud (Rabiul Awal) in an Islamic calendar. The aim is to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W which falls on the month of Rabiul Awal. Besides, the Nyangku tradition is conducted to commemorate Prabu Sanghyang Borosngora service, the King of Panjalu who was a follower and spreading out Islam teachings in Panjalu. Nyangku comes from Arabic language, ‘Yanko’ meaning to clean. But, Sundanese people pronounce the word of ‘Yanko’ becoming ‘Nyangku’. The point of the tradition is to clean heirloom objects which belonged to Panjalu kingdom. In the past, the family of Panjalu descent provided ingredients for Nyangku ceremony, such as red rice which must be peeled by hand. The red rice was used as ingredient to make Tumpeng and offerings. Tumpeng is a cone-shaped rice dish with additional dishes of vegetables and meat. To peel un-hulled red rice has been begun since the date of 1st Maulud until one day before the implementation of the ceremony. Nyangku ritual stars by making pilgrimage to the king cemetery at Situ Lengkong, Panjalu. The ceremony usually starts at around 07.30 A.M. local time by putting out the heirloom objects from place, namely Bumi Alit. Afterwards, the heirloom objects are carried by being picked up by the descent of Panjalu king to Nusa Gede. Arriving at Situ Lengkong, the carriers of the heirloom objects which wear Moeslim and Sundanese clothes, cross by boat to Nusa Larang. Then, the heirloom objects are paraded to small building at Nusa Larang. The carriers of the heirloom objects are accompanied with tambourines rhythm and Shalawat or prayers to the main stage where the ceremony is held to clean the heirloom objects. Thus, the heirloom objects are put on special mattress. And one by one, the heirloom objects begin to be opened from its wrapping. Then, they are cleaned immediately by using water from 7 springs and added with lime water. Washing the heirloom objects starts from Prabu Sanghyang Borosngora sword. After that, it is continued with the others. After finish, those heirloom objects are smeared with special coconut oil. And then, they are wrapped again with young coconut leaves and wrapped again with 7 layers of white clothes and tied with thread. Afterwards, it is dried by using smoke of frankincense and being paraded to be stored again at Pasucian Bumi Alit.

Read 1611 times Last modified on Thursday, 10 May 2018 18:52
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