00:01The Cowongan Tradition, a Unique Rain Ritual for the Banyumas Community
00:08The Banyumas people in Central Java have a unique ritual if there is a prolonged dry season,
00:14namely carrying out the cowongan tradition, a ritual to summon rain.
00:18Cowongan comes from the word cowong-coweng which means scribbling on the face of a cowong, the doll used in this ritual.
00:26In practice, cowong or dolls will be paraded around the village.
00:31Uniquely, during the ritual, residents actually ran away from the cowongan.
00:35This tradition, which has been going on for generations, is generally carried out by women in a state of purity who are not menstruating or
00:42postpartum.
00:43The Cowongan tradition is held on Friday Keliwon night in the month of Kapat on the Javanese calendar or around September to October during the rainy season.
00:51prolonged drought.
00:52Not only as a ritual, but now the cowongan tradition has become a unique art form that is presented with complete movements and songs.
01:00with its accompaniment.
01:01Apart from Banyumas, this tradition is also commonly carried out in Cilacap, Purbalingga, Southeast Banca, and Kebumen Regencies.
01:08Even though they have their own characteristics, their shapes are similar.
01:14Thank you for watching!
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