Mekotek Tradition In Munggu Bali

Mekotek or Ngerebeg is a tradition in Munggu Village, Mengwi, Badung Regency, Bali. This unique tradition is held every 210 days (six months in the Balinese calendar), to be precise on Saturday or Saniscara Kliwon wuku Kuningan (Kuningan Day). This is an ancestral tradition that continues from time to time.

Initially, the Mekotek tradition was intended to welcome the soldiers of the Mengwi Kingdom (Badung) for their victory over the Blambangan Kingdom in Java.

In 1915, during the Dutch colonial suppression, this tradition was not held because the Dutch were worried there would be a rebellion. After that there was an epidemic and caused disaster in the village. The Gerebeg Mekotek tradition was held again.

This Ngerebeg procession is followed by Munggu villagers, especially men, and are required to wear traditional Balinese clothes. In the past, the Mekotek ritual used a spear, then replaced with a stick made of Pulet wood which was about 3.5 meters long.

All participants gather at Pura Dalem Munggu and offer prayers as an expression of gratitude for the successful harvest. Furthermore, all participants paraded to the spring in Munggu Village.

Participants were divided into several groups, each consisting of 50 people. The wooden sticks are then put together to form a pyramid-like shape. The term “mekotek” comes from the sound of wood colliding with each other and creating the sound "tek...tek...tek...tek".

The most courageous participants climb up the top of the cone, give command and encouragement to attack other groups. To increase the enthusiasm of the participants, this tradition is accompanied by the gamelan Beleganjur.

The Mekotek tradition functions as a procession to repel reinforcements (tolak bala), protect from disease outbreaks and invoke for safety for the village. Mekotek or Ngerebeg was crowned as national intangible cultural heritage by the Indonesian government. This tradition is an attractive attraction for tourists who are on vacation in Bali.

Reference

1. google.co.id
2. wikipedia.org _ Mekotek _ on April 25, 2021
   https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekotek

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