THE 2011 Senggigi Festival overwhelmed audiences and hundreds of international photographers with spectacular, slickly-presented and dramatic images of the intensely ritualistic and little-known life of Lombok’s islanders.
A large fleet of colourful local fishing boats crossed its event finish line to forma stunning natural backdrop to the open stage on Senggigi Beach onto which hundreds of dance artists moved in time to the traditional music of Lombok’s indigenous Sasak people.A crowd of thousands was mesmerised by the extravagant opening performance, brilliant costumes and defining natural backdrop. Dancers presented the procession of Merari, which is the traditional mating procedure and part of the marriage ritual of the Sasaks.
In the unique tradition, the husband-to-be steals into the home of his loved one’s parents at night and abducts his future wife. The woman’s family must later receive compensation for the loss of their daughter.
The young couple has collaborated to determine the time of the abduction, but in order to avoid rejection of her fiancé, the woman has kept the plan secret from her parents and other family members. Usually, she has confided only in her best friend.
For Sasak people, Merari involves a sacred procession in which men and women from the young man’s immediate family must accompany the young woman to a secret hideout after she has been “stolen” from home. These chaperones ensure that the honour of both parties is maintained as Sasak culture does not permit intimate relations before a couple is married.
While negotiations take place between the two families, the couple and their chaperones remain in hiding, usually at the home of a relation of the young man, certainly outside the young woman’s village and possibly far away. The couple stays hidden and must not visit public places.
The Merari procession was greeted in the festival with a symphony of traditional music – rebana (tambourine), gambus (lute) and cilokak (multi-instruments)– and contemporary dance depicting the joyous atmosphere of marriage.
As the performance of Merari came to an end, troupes of artists presenting some of the most popular regional ritual arts entered the stage from both left and right, treating onlookers to a feast of the senses. On show were representations of traditional circumcision, tawak tawak(gong) music and the famous Beleq (big drum) music and dance.
This magnificent display formed part of the opening extravaganza of the 2011 Senggigi Festival, from 14 to 17 July, whose focus on distinctive theatrical rituals such as Merari brought heightened drama and cultural significance to the event.
The 2011 Senggigi Festival was rescheduled to coincide with the gathering on Lombok of photographers from 49 nations and with the International Festival of Youth, Sport, Marine.
The influx to Lombok of the media and young sportsmen is expected to boost the tourism profile of the island and of its wider province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Each group of important visitors was able to experience and record images and memories of the outstanding Senggigi Festival, adding value to a concerted, multi-level effort to promote and grow NTB’s promising tourism industry.
The 2011 Senggigi Festival presented a brilliant array of vision and sound, giving an insight into the rich artistic and cultural wealth of Lombok. “We improved the concept and changed the grand opening from a street parade into an amazing fusion of art and tradition on iconic Senggigi Beach,” said West Lombok Tourism Office head Rumindah.
For the first time, and in a further exercise to celebrate and revealritual Sasak life, the festival included a presentation of Nyongkolan – an element of the Sasak marriage tradition in which a palanquin bearing the bride and groom is the main feature of a lively and colourful street procession.
The festival featured a presentation of the age-old tradition of Bekayat, in which ancient Sanskrit scriptures recorded on palm leaves are orally translated in a special tone and to a distinctive rhythm.
Bekayat takes place on special Islamic occasions such as the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet and on occasions involving the rituals of circumcision, the shaving of babies’ heads, marriage and death.
Bekayat readings often concern the spiritual journey of the Prophet, the introduction of Islam to Lombok and life messages about humans living in harmony and cooperation.
“To present our maximum potential for tourism development, we must expose our diverse and colourful arts and culture to everyone,” said Rumindah.
The festival concluded with a presentation of what is done on Lombok after the show is over – Rebak Jangkih, which basically means the clean-up of the event materials and site and the preparation of a shared meal for all who have contributed to the successful event.
West Lombok has moved into the second half of 2011 with an exciting program of cultural and other national events, all set to draw more attention and tourists to Senggigi. If you can’t visit later this year, make sure the 2012 Senggigi Festival is on your agenda – it promises to exceed the highest expectations.
