VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Welcome to “Indonesian Wonder,” a daily segment featuring tourism, culinary arts, fine arts and culture from various regions across Indonesia. In today’s edition, we will invite you to Aceh to know more one of Acehnese cultures. 

Aceh which has a nick name Veranda of Mecca, has its own uniqueness in traditions which cannot be found in other regions. According to the history, Peusijuek tradition is one of cultural heritages of Hindu. The existence  of Hindu culture in  Aceh was caused with relations between Aceh and India in the past. So indirectly, Hindu culture began to influence Acehnese culture.  But, since Islam entered to Aceh, the tradition’s implementation certainly has used Islamic elements such as Salawatand prays which have been determined in Islamic teachings. Salawat is a special Arabic phrase, which contains the salutation upon the prophet of Islam.

The word of “Peusijuek “ is taken from the word of “Sijue” in Acehnese language meaning cool; so Peusijeuk  can be meant to cool. In Acehnese culture, Peusijuek tradition is to ask for safety, quietness and happiness in life. Peusijuek is divided into some types, such as Peusijuek meulangga ( at the time of the dispute), Peusijuek pade bijeh ( beginning to plant rice), Peusijuek tempat tinggal ( to occupy a new house), Peusijuek peudong rumoh ( to build a house), Peusijuek kaurubeuen (when doing slaughter) Peusijuek  vehicle and Peusijuek pilgrimage. The implementation of Peusijuek ritual is usually held by religious or traditional senior figures. It is a must because Peusijuek tradition is a sacred ritual, so that to hold, it must a person who understands most about prays and procession in the ritual. Moreover, the person who is  Peusijuek, is man, usually will be held by  Teungku or Ustad. If the Peusijuek is woman, so the procession will be held by Ummi or eldest woman. In implementing Peusijuek tradition, there are 3 important things, namely tools and also Peusijuek materials, movement and pray. The equipment and tool which are used in Peusijuek ceremony are henna leaves which have a meaning, rice seed which is planted to be strong and resistant to any pest problems; the salt has a meaning rice seed which is sown to have character like salt, namely to be able to destroy disease on rice so that the rice can  exists to survive. Every Peusijuek material has philosophy and special meaning in it. The movement in  Peusijuek procession is one of very important things, because it cannot be wrong to do the ritual. The movement is usually held from left to the right and sometimes by way of cross. Pray is the most important element,  because the core of Peusijuek ceremony is to ask for the God to give safety, happiness and welfare for them who hold Peusijuek. Peusijuek tradition is still preserved and held until now. Acehnese people believe the tradition is the result of local culture where culture and religion should run in harmony. That was Indonesian Wonder for today featuring Peusijuek tradition from Aceh province.