Larung Offerings Tradition Of Telaga Sarangan Magetan 2022 Held Closed

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION VIA ANTARA

MAGETAN - The Magetan Regency Government has decided to hold the traditional larung offerings ceremony in 2022 at Telaga Sarangan, Plaosan District, Magetan Regency, East Java, behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Larung offerings at Telaga Sarangan is a cultural tourism agenda in Magetan Regency which is carried out by residents of Sarangan Village once a year every month of Java Ruwah, before the month of Ramadan as a form of gratitude for the blessings of the beautiful lake and fertile land.

Head of the Tourism Management Division of the Magetan Tourism and Culture Office (Disparbud), Eka Raditya, said that because it was held closed, the Sarangan Lake tourist attraction during the traditional ceremony would be closed to the public.

As planned, Sarangan Lake will be temporarily closed starting on Thursday, March 17 at 16.00 WIB until Friday, March 18 at 16.00 WIB.

"So this year's offerings larung is not open to tourists, but only by internal Sarangan residents by implementing health protocols. We apologize that Sarangan Lake is temporarily closed," said Eka Raditya, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, March 16.

According to him, in previous years the ritual procession was open to tourists. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tumpeng larung and other rituals are not open to the public or tourists.

"This policy was taken after considering suggestions and input from the COVID-19 Task Force and other relevant parties to prevent the transmission of COVID-19," he said.

The decision of the Magetan Regency Government has also been approved by the elders and community leaders of Sarangan Village as performers of traditional ceremonies.

Larung offerings is the culmination of the clean ceremony of the village community around Sarangan Lake on Friday Pon in the month of Ruwah in the Javanese calendar.

The clean tradition of the village is carried out by the residents of Sarangan as a form of gratitude to God Almighty, as well as a request that Sarangan Lake remains sustainable and its citizens get prosperity, prosperity, and be kept away from all disasters.

Because many tourists are interested, the annual activity is set by the Magetan Regency Government as a cultural tourism agenda to increase tourist visits in Magetan, especially the Sarangan Lake tourist attraction.