Uncovering the Meaning of Flower Bathing Ritual in Javanese Kliwonan Culture

  • Tarmin Tarmin UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Sraddha Gautami Lotus Academic Collège - Lalitpur, Nepal
Keywords: Ancestral Reverence, Cultural Anthropology, Flower Bath Ritual, Javanese Traditions, Social Solidarity

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the flower bathing tradition in the Kliwonan ritual of Rawameneng Village as a fusion of Islamic teachings, Javanese mysticism, and ancestral reverence. This tradition serves as a means of spiritual purification, strengthens social solidarity, and preserves cultural heritage amidst the challenges of modernity. The study employs a qualitative approach, utilising data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and document studies. The data were analysed using a descriptive-analytical method to uncover the relationship between education levels, gender participation, and generational roles in the performance of this ritual. The findings indicate that education levels influence how individuals perceive and participate in the Kliwonan tradition. Those with lower levels of education tend to preserve the tradition as a sacred heritage without reinterpretation, while highly educated individuals act as facilitators who bridge the tradition with modern Islamic understandings. Gender also plays a significant role, with men leading prayers and managing logistical arrangements, while women safeguard the sustainability of the tradition by transferring knowledge to the next generation. The implications of this study include the adaptation of the tradition through digital technology to engage the diaspora and the integration of traditional values into local education to maintain its relevance in the modern era. This research offers an original contribution by identifying the role of the diaspora in preserving traditions through digital platforms, an aspect rarely discussed in previous studies. Moreover, the findings expand insights into how local traditions can endure by combining cultural values, spirituality, and modern adaptation strategies. This study provides added value to the fields of religious and cultural studies, particularly in understanding the role of tradition as a medium for social resilience and cultural identity amidst changing times.

Published
2025-01-13
Section
Articles