By Musriadi Musanif
(Journalist)
TANAH DATAR - For the majority of Muslims in Indonesia, especially in West Sumatra, the tradition of balimau every time they enter Ramadhan is still sustainable, even though over time its implementation has increasingly sparked controversy.
But that doesn't mean much to the people of Nagari Talang Tangah, Sungai Tarab District, The Regency of Tanah Datar, West Sumatra.
The balimau tradition before the start of the 1st of Ramadan is still carried out every year. The difference is, in Talang Tangah balimau it is not a bath, but an arena prepared for traditional leaders to negotiate.
The initial determination of fasting in the nagari, which is at the waist of Mount Marapi, was carried out by traditional leaders through consensus, while the nagari children displayed their various skills in a special arena that had been prepared. This tradition is called balimau.
This is a tradition of our ancestors from a long time ago. The month of fasting is welcomed with joy.
The activity began with a performance of various nagari children's arts, such as randai, pencak silat, plate dance, and so on. "After that, it was followed by a ninik mamak consensus to agree on the start of Ramadhan," explained one resident.
On that occasion, niniak mamak and community leaders also conveyed advice and advice to nagari children, both regarding the practice of customs and other good advice.
The activity was attended by almost all nagari children and some migrants who deliberately returned to their hometowns to take part in the activity.
In contrast to the concept of balimau which has been understood and practiced by people, especially from urban areas in West Sumatra, by bathing in holes, rivers, swimming pools and lakes, mixing men and women, this tradition tends to invite acts of this immorality is not known at all by the people of Talang Tangah.
Balimau practice among the Talang Tangah community is to rub lime into the hair three times, after the niniak mamak decides to fast the next day.
So, balimau is not interpreted as bathing. Usually, mothers have prepared the balimau's needs and donated them to the people who attended the event.
The tradition that has developed for so long among the Talang Tangah community should continue to be preserved, considering that what is being done is a very good thing in fostering friendship and unity among the community.
"This activity is very interesting. No village that I know has a tradition of friendship and welcoming the Ramadhan fast in such an amazing way," said another resident.
In the midst of the destruction of the balimau tradition which has a negative connotation in urban communities in West Sumatra, the residents of Talang Tangah are still determined to preserve the traditions and heritage of their ancestors.
Apart from the moment to display the cultural arts of nagari children, in the balimau tradition in the Talang Tangah community there are also various culinary specialties.
If cultural arts were present before traditional leaders negotiated to determine the 1st month of Ramadan, then typical nagari culinary delights appeared after the negotiations were completed.
Visitors are served nasi lamak equipped with chicken eggs, bananas, batiah and paniaram.
These snacks are brought by the mothers to the balimau activity center and placed in a container called a talam. On balimau day there are hundreds of trays from all the families in the local niniak mamak area.
Other typical Talang Tangah culinary delights are galamai talang tangah, rakik maco and chicken samba ubek. The culinary riches, cultural treasures and natural beauty of Talang Tangah indeed have extraordinary potential, if explored and packaged well.
It is possible that this potential will be explored and developed in such a way with a clear and measurable concept, for example packaged in the Satu Nagari Satu Event, which is now part of Tanah Datar Regency's flagship program.***
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