Harmony with Nature through Forest Offerings

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

The traditional head (second from left) reads an Islamic prayer during the traditional ritual of the Forest Seserahan at the Forest Seserahan Customary Center, Paau Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, Monday (20/9/2021).

Batu Balian in Paau, Aranio district, Banjar, South Kalimantan, was flocked by many visitors on Monday (20/9/2021). They had traveled to the outlaying area that took more than three hours to reach by motor vehicle, boat and on foot as they were going to attend a forest offering ceremony, a thanksgiving rite locally known as “seserahan hutan”.

From the provincial capital city of Banjarmasin, the visitors set out on a 60-kilometer road trip to the port at Riam Kanan Reservoir.

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The trip continued on a motorboat for an hour and a half to Paau before the entourage walked through the terrain of Mount Haur Bunak to reach the Batu Balian tourist attraction.

Upon arriving, they set up tents by the banks of the Tuyup and Hapuray Rivers as the people of Paau were preparing for the traditional ceremony.

They cooked food, including ketupat [rice wrapped in coconut leaves] and various cakes. Some tended to the ceremony’s utensils.

Paau village administration secretary Aspiani Alpawi informed that the ceremony would be held at night and invited the visitors to enjoy the natural atmosphere as well as the kuntau martial arts show that afternoon.

At 8 pm Central Indonesia Time, the customary elders entered the room. Cakes and food as offerings were placed. The attendants, made up of local residents and visitors, were asked to come close.

“When the traditional ritual takes place, all must be quiet and still. Don\'t go here and there," Aspiani said through the microphone.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Visitors pass the path to the Seserahan Forest Customary Center in Paau Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, Monday (20/9/2021).

Six male and one female customary elders sat on the higher floor facing a round table. Several other women sat on the lower floor of the room. The lights were turned off. White smoke billowed and smelled of frankincense.

The elders turned the round table several times while shuffling the position of some of the offerings. A male and female elder later descended to the ground floor. After that, the senior elder said Islamic prayers.

As the ritual, which lasted about 30 minutes, was over, some of the offerings were served to the guests and residents. The lights had been turned back on.

Two elders then played the violin. At the end of the music performance, the ceremony attendants were invited to come forward one by one to receive “tepuk tepung tawar” from the elder. This ritual wrapped up the whole procession of the ceremony.

Thanksgiving

According to the customary head of Paau village, Halidi, the seserahan hutan has been carried out by the Paau community for generations as the local people’s expression of gratitude for the forest produce that has been enjoyed for one year. "Humans are obliged to give back some of the produce for the preservation of the forest," he said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Traditional elders perform a procession of fresh flour to residents and guests who attend the traditional ritual of Seserahan Hutan at the Seserahan Hutan Customary Hall, Paau Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, Monday (20/9/2021).

Through this traditional ceremony, local residents give offerings to forest “unseen dwellers”. The residents ask for security and safety from the threats and disturbances of wild animals.

It is also a form of religious syncretism between Hinduism and Islam.

The forest offerings ritual is, according to Aspiani, part of Banjar tradition, which is an acculturation with the Dayak tribe on Mount Meratus. It is also a form of religious syncretism between Hinduism and Islam.

The ritual is carried out by the Paau residents on the night of the full moon between August and October. "It depends on the readiness of the residents upon completing the rice harvest. This traditional ritual is also a token of gratitude for the harvest," Aspiani said.

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After the ritual, the residents are prohibited from entering the forest for seven days. The customary elders will perform a special ritual to re-open the forest after three days of forest cleansing.

“Once the forest has been cleansed, the residents may return to the forest for agarwood, resin and rattan. That\'s what the people here have been searching for [as a livelihood source] since the beginning,” she said.

Paau village head Najmianorn said all residents had contributed to the forest offerings ceremony in the spirit of mutual cooperation.

“Most of the Paau people do farming and live on forest produce. Therefore, the forest must be preserved,” he said.

Paau is located in the 112,000-hectare Sultan Adam forest park. "We will include the forest offerings ritual in the South Kalimantan tourism calendar," Muhammad Syarifuddin, head of the South Kalimantan tourism office, said.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Traditional elders perform a procession of fresh flour to residents and guests who attend the traditional ritual of Seserahan Hutan at the Seserahan Hutan Customary Hall, Paau Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, Monday (20/9/2021).

The residents applauded the government’s plan and reminded that forest preservation should come as a priority to ensure not only local livelihood but also harmony between people and nature.

"I hope that in the next 15 to 20 years, the forest will remain as it is today," said Nur Ade Pesireron (24), one of the visitors who is also a student of the Forestry School at Lambung Mangkurat University.

(This article was translated by Musthofid).