Local Religions and the Rituals in Ndoto Music Performance: A Case Study of Cultural Paradigms in Indonesia (original) (raw)

2023, International journal of humanities & social studies

is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that has a range of cultures that are very diverse and diffused from Sabang to Merauke. East Nusa Tenggara is one Province in central Indonesia that possesses a collection of cultures, traditions, rituals and arts. Culture at a certain point can be a piece of authentic evidence, a culmination of change, and also a development that takes place in a certain time and space (Gregor Neonbasu, 2021:15). It is considered to have seven aspects, namely: • Religious systems, beliefs and religious ceremonies, • Systems and community organizations, • Knowledge systems, • Languages, • Arts, • Livelihood systems, • Technological systems (Koentjaraningrat 1985: 180) By understanding the explanation above, it can be concluded that culture is a manifestation of the unity of the community's sense of culture that is carried out to create values that are inherent in the community. Culture itself is something complex, which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, habits, and values acquired by humans as members of society (Haviland, 1999:332). Culture in East Nusa Tenggara has born and developed for centuries by the indigenous people. It is heavily influenced by the environment, ancestral beliefs, and inculturation that develops in the local community that owns the culture itself. The inherent values can then be defended and enhanced by the owner community through various approaches such as art, rituals, etc. Cultures that are considered positive will be passed on by a group of people from generation to generation, while cultures that are considered conservative, damaging and negatively charged will be rejected. The condition of positive cultural inheritance as well as active art development occurs in many regions in Indonesia and one of them is on the island of East Nusa Tenggara. One of the regions in Java that still holds the existence of Ruwat bumi is in Purbalingga Regency, Central Java, where the implementation of this Ruwat bumi tradition is usually carried out in the month of Sura or the Islamic New Year. Ruwat bumi in the Purbalingga area is unique compared to other types in other Javanese regions. The existence of puppet shows in a series of ruwat structures is one form of activity that cannot be separated. Art in the people of Nagekeo is a means to deepen relationships between communities because art is something that can be appreciated by all groups regardless of social status in society. One of the rituals in Indonesia that is derived from the Flores region of East Nusa Tenggara is the Ngagha Mere ritual.