Can Call Rain, Where Did The Suling Dewa Dance Come From?

The Suling Dewa dance is a traditional dance that has sacred and historical values. This dance is usually performed in traditional ceremonies as a form of respect for ancestral spirits and an expression of gratitude to the Creator.

The uniqueness and philosophical meaning behind the Suling Dewa Dance make it a cultural heritage that should be preserved and introduced more widely. So, where did the Suling Dewa Dance come from?

Reporting from the Gandes Uncle's Dance Studio page, Suling Dewa Dance is one of the traditional arts from Bayan, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Interestingly, this dance is only performed when the dry season hits, with the aim of begging for rain to fall. This art was born when the Bayan area was hit by a prolonged dry season.

Please note, the people of Bayan, known as one of the oldest centers of civilization in Lombok, rely heavily on agriculture. The prolonged dry season causes plants to not grow and develop, thus affecting the cycle of people's lives. The dangers of hunger also threaten.

Until then, the people of Bayan believed that the sound of a god can rain from the sky and provide a new life on earth. Therefore, they created the Suling Dewa dance as a ritual to call for rain.

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Before the dance begins, the people of Bayan determine the day, time, and place that are considered good for carrying out the ritual. They also prepare offerings in the form of flowers, food, and betel lime. Cretaceous betel is the most important component and is believed to be able to bring rain.

Another uniqueness of the Suling Dewa dance is the philosophical understanding contained in the distillation used.

A musical instrument depicts a human form. If foam is not blown, it will not produce beautiful tones. Likewise with humans, if the body is without athma or spirit, of course there will be no life.

In addition to calling for rain, the Suling Dewa Dance ritual is also believed to be able to expel disturbing animals such as rat pests or birds that can damage plants in community fields or gardens.

The dance of the people of Bayan is also often used to accompany certain traditional rituals, such as the Ngasah Ngaponin Sesinggan traditional ritual (culce).

Apart from the people of Bayan, there are dances calling for rain that are not just entertainment, but also part of the rituals and beliefs of the local community. Here are some other interesting rain- calling dances:

The Sabet dance is a tradition for the people of Karangjati Village, Banjarnegara, which is part of the Ujungan ritual. Ujungan itself is a rattan fight between two people who are interspersed with dances and are only allowed to hit the legs.

Through the Sabet Dance, residents ask for rain when the long dry season hits. This ritual is similar to the Tiban tradition from Blitar, East Java.

The Gundala-Gundala Karo dance comes from Karo Regency, North Sumatra. This dance aims to call for rain or in Batak called Ndilo Wari Udan.

Usually, the dancers will wear a unique costume in the form of a robe and a wooden mask. This dance tells the story of a misunderstanding between the king's daughter and the Gurda-Gurdi bird which leads to fighting and the death of the bird.

After Gurda-Gurdi's death, heavy rain fell, so this dance was linked to a request for rain.

The Sintren dance is a traditional dance for Javanese people in Cirebon, West Java. This dance is also known as Lais, which contains mystical and magical elements. Sintren tells the story of love between Sulasih and Sulandono.

The Sintren dance is played by a holy girl who is assisted by a handler and accompanied by gamelan music. Before dancing, the girl was put in a chicken cage covered in cloth.