When Puak Dayak Deah Rejoices

Dayak Deah traditional dance - Dewilisa Finifera

ayak Deah

Harmony with nature - Dewilisa Finifera

It is said that, approximately three centuries ago, three family groups from the lineage of Atak, Ma Mice, and Bardi migrated from Regant Tatau (now Banjarmasin) to Langon Langit (Martapura), Jemuntai (Amuntai), Peluya, and reached the foot of the northwestern

Meratus mountains, a tropical forest area flanked by two rivers namely Liyu and Angam (Galumbang). Now, we know this area as Liyu Village, the expansion village of Mount Riut Village in 1980. Halong Subdistrict, Balangan Regency, South Kalimantan Province.

Liyu village is the very end village, marked by the end of asphalted roads. Inhabited by the majority of the customary society called Dayak Deah. If you want to visit Liyu from Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjar Baru, you need 7-8 hours by road to reach it. As in the traditional villages in the archipelago, the people of Liyu Village start almost all social activities with rituals. Ngumo ngentaoutn, for example, is a series of rituals that precede rice farming in the fields. The ritual begins with another ritual, melatu wini, which is the recitation of mantras and prayers to the creator and ancestors so that the harvest is abundant later.

Demang or customary chairman leads the ritual of melatu wini with Bawo language, especially for farm owners who adhere to Hinduism. Nearly ninety percent of Liyu villagers adhere to Hinduism. The rest are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists,

and Confucians. Unlike the Hindus on

the island of Bali, Hindus in Liyu negate the ngaben ritual and still adhere to the Kaharingan belief. The next series of rituals is nagasok miah which is a tradition of planting rice seeds. Ngasok miah is done alternately from one field to another with alternate days, depending on the readiness of the owner

Dayak Deah weaving workshop - Dewilisa Finifera

of the field so there is no need to spend wages to grow rice. Ngasok miah begins with a ritual of melatu by Penajuh Lai, a leader of rituals and planting pit makers.

The soil is hollowed out using a stick called halu or alu by men and followed by a line of seed sowers called miah. In general, the seeds planted are mountain rice, sticky rice, and buyung.

In the middle of ngasok miah or during rest sessions, ritual participants usually play ngengkulunkng or kurung-kurung, then sentokep games, and the attractions of pebintis or footfighting. Ngengkulunkng is rarely played unless occasionally accompanying traditional dances.

Ngengkulukng or in banjar language kurung-kurung, is an art that is done in the middle of ngasok rest, aimed at entertaining farmers who are tired after planting rice. The show is performed by a group of people or several people. The division, three people play kengkulukng (traditional musical instrument), two people hold bamboo or thorns as a medium of the game, while the rest dance while jumping in the middle of bamboo media or thorns.

In the Promotion Program for Village Culture held by the Directorate General of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Liyu Village packaged a series of traditional rituals above in a festival called Melatu

Wini Festival. In addition, there is also

an empowerment program called Strengthening Sanggar Senin Bajalin Jaya. Its activities include inland dance training and traditional music.

The purpose of the festival and the strengthening of the studio is certainly not only to improve quality and regeneration, but also to strengthen the identity of the village. There is also a rattan woven craft workshop that is now starting to sell out the products. Not to forget also the program of strengthening customary institutions through courses and transfer of knowledge about customary laws to the younger generation.

Like tit for tat, the Promotion Program for Village Culture receives positive appreciation, not only from residents, but also from village officials and customary institutions. “This program is like giving way to inventory wealth (culture) for us”, said Mr. Sukri, Head of Desa Liyu. Hopefully the promotion program for village culture will be successful and on target, namely the improvement of the cultural ecosystem at the village level. Liyu Village is one of the examples. Hopefully!

(Dewilisa Finifera, Young Cultural Tutor)