From whipping bodies to bathing cats, the Indonesian culture is rich in various rituals and traditions to summon the much-cherished rainfall.
For many Indonesians, rain is, no overstatement here, a source of life. As Indonesia remains an agricultural country, prolonged summer and drought seasons can be fatal for life as they know it. No wonder many communities and tribes across the country have continued and preserved centuries-old rituals and traditions, serving as a prayer for the higher power above to return that much-cherished source of life to the soil. Here Indonesia Expat breaks down several rain-calling rituals and traditions in Indonesia that have stood the test of time until this day. Some are interesting so much so that it has become a tourism appeal of its own, while others are pretty much on the edge of the supernatural.
The rain-calling rituals and traditions are listed below in alphabetical order.
Babangkongan, Majalengka
Babangkongan itself, according to Sundanese, means “resembling a frog”. This comes from the word “bangkong” which means “rice field frog”. Unlike most regional traditions, Babangkongan is usually held from evening to midnight. After Maghrib, people would gather at a predetermined location and then, after the time is determined, the rain shaman would ignite the event and begin the ritual. Throughout the event, the rain shaman would recite prayers and mantras so that rain would fall soon in his surrounding area. Meanwhile, the rest of the ritual participants will do movements, including making sounds, akin to frogs. This is due to the locals’ belief that frogs usually make a sound when it rains. This ritual is typically held every night for a whole week. After the event ends, the community just has to wait for the rain to come. And, usually, after two weeks, the rain will fall.
Cowongan Tradition, Banyumas
The Cowongan Tradition is a ritual to summon rain carried out by the Banyumas community, including Cilacap Regency and its surroundings. This tradition is rooted in the ritual of asking for rain carried out by Banyumas farmers in the past so that their harvest would be successful. According to the story that has developed in the community, during a long dry season, there was a married couple named Ki Jayaraga and Nyi Jayaraga who performed asceticism for 40 days and 40 nights. The asceticism was carried out to ask for guidance from God Almighty, so that rain would fall soon. After the asceticism was over, they received a revelation to immediately take a siwur made of coconut shell from a resident’s house where there were three widows. After just one night, the siwur spoke to Nyi Jayaraga asking to be dressed up like a woman and called by the name Nini Cowong. Nini Cowong then asked Ki Jayaraga and his wife to shake their bodies while singing the song “Siwur Tukung“. When the song was finished, there was a very loud thunderclap and then it rained for seven days and seven nights.
Flute Dance of the Gods, Bayan
The flute of the gods is one of the traditional arts originating from Bayan, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Before the dance takes place, the Bayan community will determine the day, time, and place that are considered good for carrying out the ritual. In addition, the Bayan community also prepares offerings in the form of flowers, food and betel lime. This betel lime is the most important component and is believed to be able to bring rain. Another uniqueness is the flute used to accompany the dance, which harbours a very noble philosophy. This flute musical instrument depicts the human form; if this flute is not given a breath, it will not produce beautiful notes. Likewise, with humans, if the body is without atma or spirit, there will be no life to begin with. The blowing of the flute of the gods is believed by the Bayan community to be able to bring down water from the sky to rain down on the earth. The accompanying dance, meanwhile, is performed by traditional figures or village elders.
Gebug Ende, Bali
Originating from Karangasem, Bali, Gebug Ende is a dance whose movements resemble silat. Usually, Gebug Ende is performed by two men carrying rattan (ende) to hit and a shield (tamiang) to protect themselves. Gebug Ende is performed when a long dry season hits, during which the fighters will beat each other until they bleed. They are not allowed to wear clothes, just a poleng cover and an udeng. There is no definite limit on who wins or loses. Even so, participants who are injured during Gebug Ende should not hold grudges. This is because the Balinese people believe that drops of blood from the rattan slashes will bring blessings from nature in the form of rain. Gebug Ende is also believed to be a “yadnya” (sincere sacrifice), which means that if the blood drips faster, the rain will fall faster as a result.
Gundala-Gundala Dance, Karo
Gundala-Gundala dance, also known as Gundala Karo dance, is a dance originating from Karo Regency which is located in the Bukit Barisan area, North Sumatra. Gundala-Gundala dance is presented when Karo people experience a long drought, and this ritual is carried out by residents to call for rain or, in Batak language, “Ndilo Wari Udan“. The dancers typically wear costumes with clothes like robes and masks made of wood. This dance is performed by five people, portraying the King, the Queen, the King’s Daughter, the King’s Son-in-Law, and the Gurda Gurdi bird. This dance is accompanied by traditional music like drums, gongs, serunai, and keteng-keteng. This dance has dynamic movements, but follows the rhythm of soft — and occasionally lilting — Karo traditional music.
Manten Kucing, Tulungagung
Manten Kucing is a traditional ceremony held in Pelem Village, Campurdarat District, Tulungagung Regency, East Java Province which aims to ask for rain during the long dry season. As the name suggests, the Manten Kucing ritual involves a ceremonial procession in which two Condromowo cats, male and female, are bathed in a water source on Cobaan Hill. (In Javanese, the word “manten” can be interpreted as “bride”.) The cats chosen in the ritual are not just any cats; the cats must come from the easternmost and westernmost directions of the village. After bathing the two cats, the ritual will continue with a joint prayer and a procession around the village. The procession is made like a wedding in general, continued with the Reog Kendang art, Jaranan Senterewe, and Tiban art typical of Tulungagung Regency. It is believed that with this ritual, the dry season will end and the rainy season will arrive.
Nyaluh Ondou, Central Kalimantan
Nyaluh Ondou is a ritual to ask for rain for the Dayak Ot Danum tribe in Central Kalimantan. The ceremony begins by taking water and sand from the banks of the Kahayan River, followed by delivering offerings in the middle of the forest. The offerings brought include block salt, coins, cooked eggs, rice and sticky rice, cigarettes, and boiled chicken. These offerings are presented to the three rajan or angels who control the rain: King Gamala Raja Tenggara (lord of lightning), King Junjulung Tatu Riwut (lord of wind), and King Sangkaria Anak Nyaru (lord of lightning). After reading the prayer, the ritual participants return to the river by running. Upon arriving at the riverbank, the leader of the ceremony releases a rooster to be caught.
Sintren Dance, Cirebon
Sintren or Lais Dance is a magical dance, originating from the love story of Sulasih and Sulandono. This dance is only performed when the community experiences a long drought. Usually, the Sintren dance ritual is held for 40 consecutive nights. However, prayers and hopes are still offered to the Almighty so that rain will fall quickly, which is carried out by a Sintren shaman. The Sintren dancer is a woman who must remain pure (virgin), while the lais player must be a man who is still a bachelor. This dance is performed by the dancer in an unconscious or possessed state. In addition to its movements, this dance is also famous for its mystical elements because of the special ritual for summoning spirits or gods. In addition to Cirebon, Sintren dance is spread in several places in Central Java and West Java, such as Majalengka, Indramayu, Brebes, Pemalang, Pekalongan, and Banyumas.
Tiban Body Whipping Tradition, Tulungagung
Another rain-calling tradition from Tulungagung, the Tiban Body Whipping tradition was inherited from the king of Kediri which is still preserved by the residents of Trajak village, Boyolali, Tulungagung, East Java, until now. Tiban comes from the Javanese word, namely “tiba” which means “suddenly”. It means that after the Tiban tradition is carried out, rainwater will fall suddenly. When a long drought hits and residents start to have difficulty getting water, the Tiban Body Whipping tradition carried out by adult men is held. The men, bare-chested, one on one, whip each other’s bodies in the middle of the field. The whip used in the Tiban performance is made of aren palm fronds or what is called ujung. The meaning behind the blood that comes out due to the whipping is believed to bring rain to the soil. In addition to Tulungagung, the same tradition can also be found in Trenggalek, which is called Cambuk Badan Ojung. 
Ujungan Tradition, Purbalingga
The Ujungan tradition is a traditional ceremony to ask for rain carried out by the people of Purbalingga, Central Java. This tradition is carried out by competing in magical powers between champions using rattan. This tradition is carried out by men in the middle of the field. Ujungan is carried out with an odd count, so that if the rain has not fallen after three blows, it will be continued with seven blows and so on. After finishing, the champions will shake hands and dance with joy. The Ujungan tradition teaches about the importance of courage, fortitude, and cooperation in facing the challenges of nature. In addition, the Ujungan tradition is also a means for the younger generation to understand and appreciate their cultural heritage.