VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia has various ethnic groups that have their own  cultures. Each ethnic group also has various religions and rituals, including welcoming the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. One of the ethnic groups that has a ritual to welcome this holy month is the people of Lampung who have the Belangiran ritual. Belangiran is a tradition of taking a holy bath before entering the month of Ramadan. This tradition is an intangible cultural heritage from Lampung province which is held once a year.

Belangiran comes from the word “langir” which means bathing. Meanwhile, in the Lampung language, it is called Blangikhan. But bathing here is not an ordinary bath. Belangiran bathing has a spiritual meaning, because it is an effort to purify oneself from all dirt or sins. So, the Belangiran bath is also called a repentance bath. By taking the Belangiran bath, they hope to be physically and spiritually clean before fasting during Ramadan so that they can carry out their fasting worship smoothly and devoutly.

In the Belangiran bathing tradition, there are orderly rules, starting from the water used, as well as other mixed ingredients, such as seven kinds of flowers, pandan leaves and also twigs. The water used in this bathing ritual comes from seven rivers close to the location where Belangiran is held. The water  that will be used for Belangiran is usually collected in a bun or jug,  two days before  the implementation of the Belangiran ritual. Then, the water that has been taken is separated according to how many heads of family will take part in this process. Usually, each family is given one dipper which will be divided into as many families as there are. Therefore, everyone in the family would only water their heads.

On one hand, the purpose of holding the Belangiran tradition is only as a form of thanksgiving in welcoming the arrival of the month of Ramadan.  On the other hand, this tradition is to maintain and preserve Lampung culture so that it does not disappear over time, because it is a tradition of the Lampung people, which has been carried out for one  generation to generation.