VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Photo credit: Baubau city government/RRI

Indonesia is rich in tradition and culture. One of them is called Batu Poaro Traditional Tradition in Bau-Bau city, Southeast Sulawesi. This tradition emerged since the cleric Sheikh Abdul Wahid spread Islam on Buton Island in 936 Hijri or 1526 AD. The locals believe that Batu Poaro was the footing stone of Sheikh Abdul Wahid when he was expelled and crossed the sea with a turban on his head as a sail. The community believes that by holding the traditional ritual of Batu Poaro, they can bring back the glory of Sheikh Abdul Wahid in the mid of his success in Islamising the Buton Kingdom.

In addition to commemorating the entry of Islam into Buton, Batu Poaro is also a momentum to offer prayers to the Creator so that the lives of residents are abundant in sustenance and avoid disasters. Batu Poaro traditional ritual process begins with prayers to God Almighty at the Al-Mukarabin Mosque, Wameo Village by traditional officials. When the prayer procession begins, in the middle of them is a gutter wrapped in white cloth. In this gutter there are a number of traditional foods of the Buton people, such as Lapa-lapa, Cucur, Banana and others.

After the prayer, Talang is then paraded to the location of the Poaro Stone Site by four young men wearing blue robes and a white turban on their heads. Arriving at the Poaro Stone Site on the Wameo seaside, the leaders then descended to the seaside near the stone while holding the stone. They then offered prayers there. After reading the prayer, the money on the stone is then contested by dozens of small children. The traditional ritual of Batu Poaro is now not only a tradition, but has also become a tourist attraction for the city of Bau-Bau, Southeast Sulawesi.