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Wonogiri residents dispel bad luck through 'ruwatan' ritual
Wonogiri Deputy Regent Edy Santosa said the ruwatan was part of maintaining and preserving traditional Javanese culture.
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Participants are rinsed with flower water.
(JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
D
ozens of people participated recently in a ruwatan massal (massive purification ritual) in Sendang Asri, Wonogiri, Central Java.
The participants, known as Sukerto, are considered to be born with original sin.
Numerous factors are believed to denote Sukerto. "One of the [criteria] is being an ontang-anting (only child). These people have to be purified to ensure they have a safe life," said dalang ruwat (ruwat master) Suparno Broto Carito.
Other types of Sukerto are kembang sepasang (two daughters), pandawa lima (five sons) and kendana-kendini, which means being one of two children, one male and one female.
"Some Javanese people still believe that the Sukerto have to be purified. This is a kind of prayer to God, not syirik [polytheism]. A Sukerto who does not get purified will usually get sick all the time, have a hard time finding a spouse and always experience bad luck," said Ki Suparno.
He said the ritual was related to the Betara Kala story, in which Batara Guru promised to allow his son, Batara Kala, to prey only on Sukerto children -- described as children who are sinful due to their fate. However, at the same time Batara Guru wants to protect these children, hence he purifies them through the ruwatan ritual.
The ritual procession began with a parade of dancers followed by the ruwatan participants, Pura Mangkunegaran soldiers and reog and kethek ogleng art from the entrance of the Gajah Mungkur Reservoir tourist object to Sendang Asri. This was followed by a wayang kulit (leather puppet) show performed by Ki Suparno.
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The Sukerto participants then had water with seven types of flowers poured over them. The water was sourced from two nearby springs. The ceremony continued with participants having a bit of their hair cut off, which was then spread on the reservoir.
One of the participants, Lion, 24, said he had joined the ritual with his sister, as kendana-kendini siblings.
"Ever since I was little, until now, my sister and I have experienced bad luck. When in elementary school, junior high school and high school, I had accidents several times; some were due to being hit by someone else, others because I just fell off the motorcycle," said Lion.
Wonogiri Deputy Regent Edy Santosa said the ruwatan was part of maintaining and preserving Javanese culture.
"Ruwatan as well as jamasan pusaka [preserving heritage items] ritual are always conducted in the month of Sura [the first month of the Javanese calendar]; it's a good month," said Edy. (kes)
