Sea Offering Ceremonies

Sea Offering Ceremonies

Varies

Offering ceremonies are an important practice in some Javanese religious groups. These ceremonies are often conducted by fishermen in coastal towns at various times of the year as their way of giving thanks to the sea god for their livelihood and of asking for his protection during the coming year.
In some places the Sea Offering Ceremony coincides with a major Muslim holiday. At Klidang Beach in Central Java, for example, it is held as part of Id al-Fitr. In Malang, East Java, it coincides with Mawlid al-Nabi, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday observance.
The offering ceremony held every August in Tegal, Central Java, is in many ways characteristic. There is a feast and a puppet show the night before the ceremony. In the morning, the fishermen bring their offerings down to the beach. A convoy of decorated boats sets out to sea, and the offerings—which often include food, flowers, or a bull's head—are thrown into the water.

CONTACTS:
Central Java Provincial Tourism Office
Jl. Madukoro Blok BB, 1-D Komplek PRPP
Semarang
Central Java, 50144 Indonesia
62-24-760-8570; fax: 62-24-760-8573
East Java Government Tourism Service
Jl. Wisata Menanggal
Surabaya
East Java, Indonesia
62-31-853-1814; fax: 62-31-853-1822
www.eastjava.com

SOURCES:
IntlThFolk-1979, p. 223