Betong is also used in cultural activities, such as to make musical instruments called bombardom. 

Villagers use the largest betong to make cannons, which are only fired on Christmas. Director of Saeh Go Lino Ruteng, Armin Bell, said, “In the olden days, the betong cannon was only fired when there were big events in the villages. Then the cannons were only fired when there was a death of a village elder, and after a while, the tradition disappeared.”

East Manggarai residents walk across the Waemokel river with betongs to be made into betong cannons for Christmas and New Years festivities. (JP/Markus Makur)

As for why the cannons are fired on Christmas, Armin said, “I think it’s because people on Flores, more specifically in Manggarai, have embraced Catholicism since 1912, and Christmas is seen as an important event.”

(Read also: Clove harvest day in East Manggarai)

The use of betong cannons on Christmas by villagers in Manggarai have been considered a disturbance when they are not fired at the right times. The use of firecrackers to accompany the cannons is also seen by some as disrupting the betong cannon tradition.

Armin explained, “I think if the betong cannon is only fired at certain times, maybe two or three times at dusk, it will be good. It can also signal to people that the Christmas lights in every house have been lit.”

Yoseph Geong, a retired teacher in East Manggarai, said that not all villages in the area used the betong cannon as an audio signal for big events. Some villages even banned the betong cannon in the past, however, nowadays all villages have gone back to the tradition of firing the betong cannon during Christmas festivities. 

“In the past, it was only betong cannons. Now the cannons are accompanied by firecrackers. The betong cannon is a much simpler tool, very cheap to make. We just need a big betong, kerosene and a long wooden stick to make one. Risk-wise, betong cannons are relatively safe compared to firecrackers,” Yoseph added. (asw)