VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia, which consists of different tribes and cultures, has ritual to call rain. Take for example, in East Java, especially in Trenggalek, Blitar, Kediri and Tulungagung, people have Tiban ritual or Tiban dance which is believed to be able to make the rain fall. The word of ‘’Tiban’’ comes from “tiba” in Javanese language meaning fall. Tiban means that something appears, which cannot be expected before. In this regard, “Tiban” indicates to rain which falls suddenly from the sky. The dance is folk dance from generation to generation which is part of culture of local people. Tiban dance is a prayer to the God to call the rain. Behind the ritual of the dance, there is a hoping meaning, a noble message for natural preservation. Tiban dance was performed for the first time in the era of Kediri Kingdom. When paddy barn of the villages began to decrease due to long dry season, people considered it as a curse for unbelief and unfaithfulness to the God. Then, Demang or heads of villages deliberated with the elder to get advice and opinion to compensate the curse. The villagers gave their a little treasure to be used as requirement of the implementation of traditional ceremony. Then, they communicated with the power of supra-natural and beg for forgiveness and continued by torturing and sunbathing under the sun. The self-torture was by using a whip made of sticks of palm leaf midrib. This ritual procession took the form of mutual whipping between the participants of the ritual. Tiban dance consists of 2 groups and it is led by one referee or called Landang. The dance is accompanied with Gamelan. Tiban dance is still conducted until now, although the dance has different function from religious media to become entertainment. Being appropriate with development, the Tiban dance procession is conducted not only on the field but also on the stage. The regional government of Kediri determined that the implementation time of the dance is every 1 Suro in Javanese calendar.