Series of Mappogau Sihanua Tradition [Part.2-End]

As has been posted before, Mappogau Sihanua is a unique harvest tradition owned by Karampuang society in Sinjai, South Sulawesi. In running the tradition, there are some process should be done before coming to the core of the tradition.

The first step to be done is Mabbahang. Mabbahang is a kind of discussion held and included all the members of society. This event can be held just right after the paddi harvest time either in custom field or in common people’s field in all over Karampuang area. The first thing to be prepared is women prepare glutinous rice that has been pounded and should be kept well referred to their custom. This custom activity is called mallampu.

The next step is mappaota in which it is known as a ritual in taking permission and blessing to hold the custom ceremony, Mappogau Sihanua tradition. In implementing the tradition, all the custom elder helped by society visit the sacred places by bringing small basket fill with six betel materials. The point in implementing this event is to recall their ancestor who had given them fertile farmland and good life. Besides, the meaning of the six betel materials symbolized as the death, which means the life in this world is just a moment and the eternal life will be in the hereafter. In Karampuang society belief, the six betel materials symbolized the six kinds of processes of burial in death, they are; to be flown, hung, burned, stacked then buried in sober, floated off and one by one be burried. This six elements then become the main root of Mappogau Sihanua tradition.

Mabbaja-baja or Mappipaccing Hanua is an obligation for all Karampuang society in cleaning their yard, arranging the house, cleaning the school, market, road and well so that a day before the implementation of the custom ceremony, it is expected that all the area around Karampuang has been cleaned up.

Menre’ ri bulu is the mount climbing ritual and it is also the core ritual in Mappogau Sihanua tradition. This event is held three days after mabbaja-baja event. Firstly, in implementing this event, it will be begun with a quite complicated process due to the night right before this event will be implemented, all the things needed related to the event should be prepared. It is included the food that will be served to the guests. Then in the dawn, the chickens will be killed and done by men while the women will continue the work by cutting it to some pieces to be cooked.

In the mean time, Sanro with her followers hold mattuli ritual that is followed by Sanro’s drum. Besides, mappadekko, a kind of pounding rice ritual signifies the custom ceremony begins. Then, all the things prepared before brought to the top of the mountain named embae as a sacred place for Karampuang society. In the circle of the stone, we can see there the place where the series of Mappogau Sihanua custom ceremony will be held.

The mount climbing ceremony will be ended by holding manre ade’ in the night by inviting the elder in Karampuang society and the officials around Karampuang to attend the event. Therefore, all the people without showing and referring their social classes, they will sit together and enjoy the meal.

Mabbali Sumange’ or we can say that ritual of making cake is also a series of Mappogau Sihanua. This custom ritual is also known as Massulo Beppa in which the supporting of this ritual prepare all the cakes and medicine. In this ritual the society prepare the special cake that is considered as mabali sumange’ cake namely Doko’-doko’ cake that is also known as a traditional cake in Buginese culture. This cakes has a particular meaning in the custom ceremony of Mappogau Sihanua.  

Malling is the last step of Mappogau Sihanua. This ritual can be meant as a taboo or prohibition ritual begun after Mabbali sumange’ ritual. The prohibition here referred to temma paccera’ (forbidden to kill livestock), Temma rau kaju’ (forbidden to cook vegetable foliage), temma parumpu’ (forbidden to hold a ritual at home), massalanraseng alu’ (husband and wife are forbidden to have a sex for a period of time).

This Malling ritual is held for five (5) days in Tomatoa custom house, three days in Gella custom house and one day in the folk house. After this ritual is done, then the ritual of Mappogau Sihanua is closed with Mabbahang ritual to evaluate the implementation of the current Mappogau Sihanua and to prepare the plans of the next Mappogau Sihanua custom ceremony. The core of this custom ceremony is to worship their ancestor using media of megalithic remains and offerings a servitude as a form of humans dedication to their ancestor.

Sources:
Mattulada. 1997. Kebudayaan, Kemanusian dan Lingkungan Hidup. Makassar: Hasanuddin University Press.
Muhannis. 2009. Karampuang dan Bunga Rampai Sinjai. Pustaka Timur. Sinjai.

Posted by miasastra

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