Getting To Know Lengger Dance: The Origin And Philosophy

YOGYAKARTA People know lengger dance as a people's art carried out by the people of Central Java. However, it should be noted that each region in Central Java has a lengger art with its own version. This can happen because the art is spread through artists who perform mobile shows. To understand the history and philosophy, see the following explanation.

In a study entitled Lengger Banyumas As Traditional Show Arts: Community Social Alignment and Environmental Ecological Resilience, it was explained that lenggers came from Banyumas and its surroundings including Banyumas, Cilacap, Purbalingga, Banjarnegara, parts of Kebumen, and Brebes regencies.

The Banyumas lengger dance is related to the community's respect for Dewi Kesuburan, Dewi Agricultural, or Dewi Padi, namely Dewi Sri. Lengger Banyumas is organized by farmers with accompanying musical instruments, costumes, and simple song lyrics.

It should be noted that the Banyumas lengger is different from the lengger art from East Java such as Probolinggo. This difference is natural considering that the art was spread by artists who held mobile performances in the past.

Based on its history, lengger dance has existed since the era of the Kingdom of Jenggala and Kediri. It is said that there is a prince named Panji who is looking for Dewi Sekartaji disguised himself as a Lengger Mask dressed as a woman.

Although it stems from the search for love, lengger dance experiences assimilation of Islamic culture. Especially when Sunan Kalijaga spreads the teachings of Islam. The lengger dance is then believed to come from two words, namely elinga which means remembering, and Ngger is a call for boys. Thus the meaning of the philosophy of lengger dance is that a man should continue to remember God so that he can continue to do good.

Apart from knowing lengger dance, you can get information on other traditions of Nusantara on VOI.id.