7 unique traditions in waking someone up for sahur in Indonesia

News24xx.com - Muslim in Indonesia had begun fasting on Thursday, May 17th 2018. They eat before beginning fasting, before dawn, which is called sahur. When it is time for sahur, people will do various things to wake up people, because it can be hard to wake up before dawn.
 

In the past, people were usually woken up by the men who patrolled theneighborhood while hitting on a slit drum, repeatedly shouting “Sahur! Sahur!” These days, people usually will use loudspeaker and announced it from the mosque for the people in the neighborhood. However, thereare some places in Indonesia which have unique and strange ways in waking up for sahur.

 

1.      Klotekan in Yogyakarta
 

This tradition uses a set of drums which was organized on a cart. The cart is usually tied to a bicycle to make it easier in pulling it. The youth then will go around the neighborhood since 2 in the morning while playing the drums. This is because there are many civilians who complained about not being able to wake up and eat.
 

2.      Buroq in Brebes
 

Buroq is a tradition in which the people are woken up with a giant doll of Buroq, a mysterious creature said of carrying the prophet Mohammad during Isra Mikraj. Buroq is visualized as having the head of a fairy and the body of a leopard and is dominated by yellow color. As they carry the doll, people will go around while playing Islamic Music. Some of them will knock on the houses’ doors.
 

3.      Pocong Patrol in Banyuwangi
 

As the name suggest, the people in Banyuwangi will patrol the area around their neighborhood while dressing like pocong, a corpse that has been covered in shroud. They covered themselves with shroud and wear thick white face powder to make it more frightening. The patrolling “pocong” then go around the neighborhood while playing music. Although it seems scary, the civilians are not afraid and even feel entertained by it. They usually patrol since 1 in the morning.
 

4.      Percalan in Salatiga
 

Percala is where the people go around the neighborhood while creating sound with recycled items such as used buckets or still drum.

 

5.      Canmacanan Patrol in Situbondo

 

Canmacanan uses a replica of a hige tiger as well as ondel-ondel, puppet figure in Betawi tradition. People carry them around while playing music. They will usually go around since 2 in the morning.

 

6.      Police playing Daul music in Madura

 

In Madura, the police will patrol around the neighborhood to wake up people for sahur while playing music. The music is called Daul. This tradition is considered effective as not only the civilians can wake up on time for sahur, it helps the police in keeping the area safe.
 

7.      Dengo-dengo in Central Sulawesi
 

This tradition is done in a tall building made of bamboo. This building is called dengo-dengo. Before Ramadhan comes, people will build this structure. Then, everyday, there are 8 people that take turns in playing the drum, gong and tambourine in that place.
 

Dengo-dengo is intentionally made tall so it can reach far and wide. Not only during sahur, people will also gather in this building before ending the fast at the end of the day.
 

 

 

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