Remembering mask dance maestro, Mbah Karimun

Mon, January 30, 2017 / 10:06 am

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Two Malangan mask dancers perform at the opening of Gebyar Budaya Malangan mask ritual at Mbah Karimun grave, Pakisaji, Malang, East Java in December. Mbah Karimun is known as the maestro of Malangan dance. JP/ Aman Rochman
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Malangan dance artists visit and pray at the grave of maestro Mbah Karimun in a cultural ritual in Pakisaji, Malang, East Java in December last year. The ritual is held annually. JP/ Aman Rochman
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A dancer in Malangan mask costume prays in front of Mbah Karimun grave, Pakisaji, Malang, East Java late last month. JP/ Aman Rochman
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Ritual participans carry Mbah Karimun’s Malangan masks in a white cloth and offerings during the cultural ritual, Gebyar Budaya Topeng Malangan or Malangan Mask Cultural Festival in Malang, East Java. JP/ Aman Rochman
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Suroso, one of Mbah Karimun’s descendants, leads the prayer during Malangan mask dance ritual at Mbah Karimun grave, Pakiasji, Malang, East Java on Dec. 28. JP/ Aman Rochman
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A woman washes her face at Sumber Lanang spring during Malangan mask dance ritual in Malang, East Java. JP/ Aman Rochman
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Three men bring three Malangan masks for Malangan mask ritual at Mbah Karimun grave, Pakiasji, Malang, East Java late last month. JP/ Aman Rochman
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A ritual participant prays to one of Punden [a sacred place] in the area of Mbah Karimun grave, Pakisaji, Malang, East Java, in December . JP/ Aman Rochman
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A dancer stands guard during the annual Malangan mask dance ritual in the area of Mbah Karimun grave, Pakisaji, Malang, East Java. JP/ Aman Rochman
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A mother and her daughter carry their clothes to be washed at one of the two springs in the area of Mbah Karimun grave, Pakisaji, Malang, East Java. JP/ Aman Rochman

The air was cool in Asmoro Bangun training workshop or padepokan in Kedungmonggo, Pakisaji, 15 kilometers off Malang, East Java.

The workshop was the home of Malangan mask dance maestro, called Mbah Karimun. When he died in Feb. 14, 2010, the workshop became the place for artists to study Malangan mask dance and mask making.

To remember him by, artists, students, and Mbah Karimun’s family members held a cultural ritual at his graveyard in Punden, Kedungmonggo. They had this ritual annually.

Artists, Mbah Karimun’s students and family members wore a costume and black headband. Other artists wore Malangan mask dance costumes.

The participants walked 500 meters from the padepokan to the graveyard in Punden by carrying six Malangan dance masks made by the maestro himself wrapped in a white cloth. They also carried flower petals and incense.

Suroso, one of Mbah Karimun’s descendants, said, “The visit to Mbah Karimun’s graveyard is held annually in a ritual called Gebyak Topeng Malangan to preserve Malangan mask dance.”

Upon arriving at the graveyard, the participants put the six masks on the ground, burn the incense prayed and Suroso sang Javanese songs “mocopat”, which conveyed the message that people lived only once and during the only life they had to do good deeds.

After the prayer, the artists danced without any music while the women wash their faces in a spring called “sumber lanang” or “male spring” below the graveyard. The area has another spring called “sumber wedok” or “female spring”. The springs are believed to offer good fortune for the users. [evi]

Words and photos: JP/Aman Rochman