How The World Spotlighted The Pocong, A Physical Distancing Agent From Sukoharjo

Photo illustration (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - In addition to COVID-19, many pocong have also been haunted by the start of April in the Sukoharjo area, Central Java. But, calm down, pocong is just a cosplay that is deliberately made to frighten the public. The goal is that people do not leave the house during the physical distancing period.

The typical Indonesian ghost then went viral on social media, and even became the spotlight of media in other countries. The reason is, the way Indonesians use the ghost of local wisdom to apply physical distancing is considered creative.

Reuters, for example. They interviewed a volunteer in Kepuh Village, Sukoharjo, who has been conducting "surprise patrols" every few days since early April. In addition, the pocong are also ready to guard the portals in the alley or they call them "pocong portals".

However, the initiative actually backfired because it led many people to look at those who were cosplaying after going viral on social media.

"First of all we want to be different. Second, create a deterrent effect because pocong is scary," volunteer group leader Anjar Pancaningtyas told Reuters, quoted by CNN. He also said that the initiative has also worked with the local police.

Apart from CNN, this story was also reported by the New York Post. The framing of the news is almost the same. Not to forget, they also provided an explanation of what the pocong ghost looked like.

"The pocong is known as an apparition (ghost) whose body is wrapped in a white cloth, with a powdered face, and dark circles around the eyes," it said.

Not only media from the United States. Media from Asia such as Channel News Asia and the South China Morning Post picked up this story. They highlighted how the pocong scares people into staying at home during the pandemic.