Batusangkar (ANTARA) - The community in Jorong Sikaladi Nagari Pariangan, Tanah Datar District, West Sumatra has a unique tradition of celebrating Eid, one of which is celebrating the sixth Eid day in the cemetery of the people.
That is making a pilgrimage and praying with family after completing six fasts in Shawwal. Which is addressed to families who first die so that the deeds are accepted by Allah SWT.
Mamak Pakiah Batuah from the Pisang group, in Batusangkar on Thursday, said the event had become a tradition of the ancestors in Jorong Sikaladi and still survives to this day.
Reputedly, he said that celebrating the sixth holiday began under the leadership of Kampung Panji Datuak Tanjuang, then went down to Datuak Garang, from Datuak Garang hereditary to the present.
It is estimated that the event has been inherited more or less about 400 years ago and will be handed down to the children and nephew in each of the next generation.
Nevertheless, celebrating the sixth holiday is not carelessly celebrated, but is determined by the day and time so that the prayer read is truly the purpose.
Usually, the Sikaladi community celebrates it on the first Thursday after the sixth fasting in the month of Shawwal, and culminates in the evening of Thursday at the Sipuan Raya Suku Pisang cemetery by holding prayers, remembrance, and tahlil together.
They believe that the evening of Thursday and Friday night is the time of the return of the spirits of their ancestors to the world to see their grandchildren.
For the Sikaladi community, the sixth holiday is very lively compared to the Eid al-Fitr. Because on the sixth day of the day, all the children and nephew in Jorong Sikaladi, both those who lived in their hometowns and overseas, all gathered together.
In addition, the sixth holiday of the holiday is also a form of knitting the relationship between the people of the group. By gathering together, the entire community of people can get to know each other.
Every house brings lunch with a meal to the funeral. In the trays containing rice packets to be handed over to the people who attended, ranging from children to community leaders and nomads.
Deputy Regent of Tanah Datar Zuldafri Darma while attending the event said the tradition of the sixth holiday was one form of compactness of the Sikaladi community in maintaining the values of their ancestors.
According to him, the sixth holiday can be a tradition that has tourism potential that can bring tourists to the area.
So that the cultural values that have been embedded and inherited can be known to people and can improve the economy of surrounding communities who sell.
He appreciated the efforts of the Sikaladi community in maintaining this historical value. Especially at the peak of the sixth holiday, residents gathered to do tahlil and zikir together.
While one of the residents of Sikaladi Sukarni, said that the sixth day feast was the time for a child and nephew to gather in his hometown, namely by visiting the people's cemetery together.
Each clan came to the funeral by bringing rice with tray. At the cemetery, residents will pray, remembrance, and eat together.
The peak was on Thursday evening at the Sipuan Raya Pisang cemetery by holding prayers, remembrance, and tahlil together and eating together.
Editor: Mutiara Ramadhani
Translated by: Internship Student of ANTARA 2019
In Tanah Datar there is a holiday in the cemetery
Trays compiled at the Sipuan Raya Suku Pisang Cemetery. (Antara Sumbar / Etri Saputra)
