Have you ever visited Indonesia during Eid Al Adha? There are some unique Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that you couldn’t find anywhere but Indonesia. That is because most of them are wrapped by the local custom culture.
For so many years, Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia becomes a routine tradition that never is missed. Most Muslim believe the traditions are a part of their way of showing gratitude toward god.
Some of the Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia are also believed as a way to avoid bad luck in the future. That is why those traditions are always held every year and can be a bit of bad luck for those who didn’t hold them.
If you are wondering what kind of Eid Al Adha traditions are in Indonesia, here we have some of them below. Let’s check them out!
1. Grebeg Gunungan
Grebeg Gunungan is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that usually happen in Yogyakarta. The tradition is held by locals who decorated all of their harvest in a mountain shape that call as Gunungan which becomes a cultural heritage in Indonesia.
Later, some people will bring the Gunungan on a long march through the city and end at the royal palace of Yogyakarta. Locals will wait patiently for it because once the ritual is done they will compete to try to get some of the harvests from Gunungan.
People believe once they get some of the harvests from the Grebeg Gunungan will bring luck for the next year. That is why this tradition is usually crowded with locals that compete to get them.
2. Manten Sapi
Manten Sapi is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that happen in Pasuruan, East Java. The day before Eid Al Adha comes, the animal commonly cows that will be slaughtered are given make-up such as a doll.
Later, the cow will bring in a long march through the village by locals while the woman prepares the tools to cook some of the Arab-Indonesian fusion cuisines during the Eid celebrations. People believe it is the way they are giving honor and gratitude to the animal before getting slaughtered for Eid Al Adha.
3. Gamelan Sekaten
Gamelan Sekaten is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that is commonly held in a Cirebon and Surakarta palace. They have a different tradition toward the palace of Yogyakarta and popular cultural performances in Bali.
Gamelan Sekaten is a kind of performance of traditional music instrument that is played after the prayer of Eid Al Adha is done. Locals will watch seriously and make a prayer hoping that they will get a bit of good luck and long life for the next year.
4. Kaul Negeri and Abdau
Kaul Negeri and Abdau are the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that are usually held in the central of Maluku. The tradition will hold a day before Eid Al Adha by the tradition and religious leader carrying three goats that will be slaughtered for Eid Al Adha.
Later, they will bring the goats in a long march through the village toward the unique mosque design in Indonesia. The tradition of Kaul Negeri and Abdau are representing gratitude and avoiding bad luck in the future. So many locals will participate in this tradition and sing a Shalawat during the long marches.
5. Toron
Toron is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that commonly happen in Madura, East Java. The tribe of Madura has a routine homecoming called Toron.
The tradition of Toron always happens every year a day before the Eid Al Adha celebration. It represents gratitude so that they can spend Eid together with family and relatives in the village.
During Toron time, most of Madura’s tribe will be preparing so many things for family, relatives, and friends. The tradition is a bit different, commonly Indonesian have this kind of homecoming tradition before Eid Al Fitri.
6. Apitan
Apitan is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that usually happen in Semarang of Central Java. The tradition looks similar to the Grebeg Gunungan in Yogyakarta but has a smaller amount of Gunungan.
Apitan was commonly brought up by the religious leader in a long march through the city. Local will wait for the Apitan while singing a Shalawat together and gather some prayers solemnly.
7. Accera Kalompoang
Accera Kalompoang is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that usually happen in Gowa of South Sulawesi. The tradition starts with a ritual of cleaning some of the sacred things in the Gowa royal palace, that call Bala Lampoa.
Accera Kalompoang will be held within two days of cleaning, and a sacred ritual before the Eid Al Adha celebration starts in the village. The custom head or religious leader will lead the sacred procession of it.
8. Meugang
Meugang is one of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that only happen in Aceh of North Sumatra. The tradition is a kind of having a big feast as the meat from Eid Al Adha overwhelms the Muslim villagers the biggest ethnic group in Aceh.
Meugang is only made for the young orphans and the needy ones who couldn’t capable slaughtered the animal by themselves. The traditions are already held for so many years to keep a good relationships among others in Aceh.
So, there are some of the most popular Eid Al Adha traditions in Indonesia that come from different regions. Most of them bring the unique custom culture with almost the same purpose looking for gratitude and avoiding bad luck.
