Belimau (original) (raw)

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Malay Islamic bathing tradition

The Belimau bath is a Malay Indonesian tradition, observed in order to welcome the month of Ramadan, especially in Bangka Belitung and Riau provinces.[1] The tradition has been carried down for generations and likely originated among the Minangkabau people before Islam arrived in Indonesia.[2]

Belimau consists of washing or bathing for physical and spiritual purification using limau water.[3]

In the Pacific Islands, the Belimau tradition ended about 300 years ago, but it was revived around 2006.[4] Since then, local governments have promoted the Belimau bath tradition as a part of religious tourism.[2] The Belimau Bath ceremony is held once a year, one week before Ramadan.[5]

  1. ^ "Mandi Belimau Gaya SPA Melayu Tempo Dul". Bappeda.Pekanbaru.go.id. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Tradisi unik Belimau bukan sekadar mandi massal jelang Ramadhan" [The unique "Belimau" tradition is not just a mass bathing ahead of Ramadan]. Antara Riau. 2019-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  3. ^ Andri, Alfath. "Petang Belimau, Tradisi Melayu Riau Menyucikan Diri Sambut Ramadan" [Belimau Evening, Riau's Malay Tradition of Purifying One's Own to Celebrate Ramadan]. IDN Times (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  4. ^ "Tradisi Mandi Belimau: Digelar Menjelang Ramadhan". Indosiar.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  5. ^ Zandiana, Elvi (2011-08-05). "'Balimau': A fading tradition | The Jakarta Post". Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.