In this tradition, the cows are pampered, given diamonds, paraded around the village … washed to return to the stables
Boyolali (Rifyu.com) – Hundreds of residents on the slopes of Mount Merapi, to be precise in Mlambong Hamlet, Sruni Village, Musuk District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, have been preparing themselves and their cows since Saturday morning.
In addition, also prepared ketupat with side dishes for uba rampe the annual tradition of beef wine in the context of Ketupat Eid which is held on the 8th day of Eid al-Fitr 2023. This tradition is also known as syawalan.
Sruni Village residents who live on the slopes of Mount Merapi, the majority as farmers and breeders. Every family raises cows as their source of life, both from milk and meat production.
Residents believe that milk production can support their families, so they every year on the 8th day of Shawwal, they carry out the tradition of parading cows around the village and pampering livestock as a return of gratitude and a sign of gratitude from residents for the sustenance given to their families.
Most of the residents of Sruni Village have cows or at least raise two cows. In this tradition, the cows are taken out of the pen by being given a rhombus necklace. Before being paraded, the cows are given delicious food, one of which is ketupat, to spoil them.
Before parading the cows, residents first gather for thanksgiving by eating ketupat, followed by hundreds of people. Inter-families also give each other food alms, a form of gratitude for the sustenance that has been bestowed.
Jaman, Head of RW 4 Dukuh Mlambong, Sruni Village, conveyed that the annual tradition of cow procession in commemoration of Eid al-Fitr begins with a thanksgiving in the form of eating ketupat together which is attended by hundreds of people.
The traditional event was then followed by a procession which was attended by around 500 cows belonging to the residents. All cows kept by residents will be removed from their stables. The cows gather then are paraded around the village. This tradition has been carried out since the time of our ancestors, which until now has been preserved as an annual tradition.
However, the tradition of parading cows began to be organized in 2006, which was followed by all residents who owned cattle. Previously there was, but it was carried out individually by cattle breeders on the slopes of Merapi.
One of the aims of the Syawalan tradition of the cow procession is to strengthen unity and oneness among them. The majority of farmers and dairy farmers in this village, around 98 percent.
The procession begins with eating diamonds together, followed by a procession of cows, then the cow ritual is bathed and perfumed with a diamond necklace.
“In this tradition, the cows are also spoiled by their owners by being given ketupat food before being paraded around the village and then being bathed to return to the stables,” he said.
The implementation of this tradition was greeted enthusiastically by the residents, moreover the government also provided support so that it could bring in many people.
This year’s community is considered more prosperous than the previous year. This is because people who own cattle have increased to 500 heads, whereas the number of cattle in this hamlet was previously only 300 heads. Almost every resident in this hamlet has a cow as a source of family income besides farming.
Preserve traditions
Darmaji, one of the community leaders in Dukuh Mlambong Sruni, conveyed the tradition of parading hundreds of cows of residents in Dukuh Mlambon Sruni Village which is held every 8th day of Eid al-Fitr to preserve culture.
It is said that, said Darmadji, Prophet Sulaiman, who was in charge of animals, inspected the farmers’ livestock. After that, with the development of the times, the tradition of being cultivated by the people of the slopes of Mount Merapi until now simultaneously celebrates Ketupat Eid.
The tradition of cattle wine is also held by residents in Mlambong, Gedong and Rejosari villages. There are as many as 200 families and each family has two to 10 heads so hundreds of cows are paraded around the village.
The cattle before being paraded around the village are given ketupat food and then smeared or given perfumed oil so they also smell good.
Cattle deserve to be pampered by their owners, because these livestock can provide welfare for the local community. Residents can eat, send their children to school, and provide welfare from the cattle.
The Head of the Boyolali District Education and Culture Office Darmanto conveyed that for the people of Boyolali in general and Sruni Village in particular, cows are part of life and life.
Practically the life of society as a whole cannot be separated from the existence of cows. For this reason, at the moment of Ketupat Eid, the community treats cattle as part of their life.
So when the residents are happy, their cows must be happy too. On the other hand, if the owner is sad, the cow will also be depressed.
The cow procession is a good tradition, a cultural heritage from its predecessors, which local residents must preserve.
“The tradition of cow procession is a good culture, we have a duty to foster and preserve that culture,” he said.
The life and life of the residents of Dukuh Mlambong, Sruni Village, on the slopes of Mount Merapi, cannot be separated from cows.
The people are happy, the cows are happy too. Healthy cows, healthy people too. Society considers cows like themselves. They will not sleep well and eat well when the cows have not had enough food and are full.
The climax, when the residents rejoiced at the Eid al-Fitr holiday, they distributed joy to the cows that had made the residents prosperous. The trick is to take them out of the cage, paraded them, then make them happy with the intake of ketupat, a source of carbohydrates that the people usually eat on holidays.
The message from this tradition is that breeders repay the kindness of cows which have become a source of family income.
EditorR: Achmad Zaenal M
Editor: Achmad Zaenal M
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source: www.antaranews.com
