SOCIO-RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF TRADITIONAL CEREMONY: ISLAMIC THEOLOGY AND SOCIAL COHESION IN NGALAKSA TRADITIONAL CEREMONY IN INDONESIA

Abstract

This paper describes the traditional ceremony of Ngalaksa which conducted by indigenous
people in Sumedang, West Java as an expression of gratitude for the abundant harvest. This
study argued that this ceremony is a kind of religious phenomenon and in a cultural context
and has implied to their daily social life. Using the ethnography method, this study describes
how Islamic theological values occurred in the process of the ceremony which at the same time
shows the significant relationship between Islamic theologies with the beliefs of indigenous
ancestors in Sumedang. This is shown by many elements of Islamic values, including through
the use of du’as (Arab-Islamic spells). In addition, as in general traditional ceremonies that
usually have social values, the whole process of Ngalaksa ceremony is also used as the medium
by indigenous people to maintain social cohesion.