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Environmental Conservation Through Sanggring Ritual
Thanksgiving ritual at the spring - Henry Nurcahyo
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Mendhak sanggring is a ritual that is annually do in Tlemang village, Ngimbang district, Lamongan regency, East Java. Literally, the words “mendhak” means the commemoration of the death or haul. However, this is actually a ritual for conservating the environment, folklore, and special traditional culinary that are only cooked once a year.
Sanggring, itself, is the name of a soupy dish from Lamongan which is made from chicken and cooked in special ways. So mendhak sanggring is a series of rituals that are generally similar to Bersih Desa rituals. Tlemang people believe that sanggring soup has efficacy that can resist disease or as tradition medicine.
Wayang Krucil performance - Henry Nurcahyo A communal thanksgiving through a feast- Henry Nurcahyo
Accordingly, the origin of the word sanggring refers to ‘sanggring wong gering’ phrase means medicine for the sick. In addition, this ritual is also considered as a prayer intended for people and the leaders of the village to always grant the grace and safety by the God Almighty. It is also a hope for a healthy life, fertile agriculture without pests, good fortune, and to be kept away from badlucks and disasters.
The Unique Procedure of the Sanggring Ritual
Tlemang is a village located in the limestone hills surrounded by teak forest in the district of Lamongan. Even though this village has many springs but, unfortunately, this limestone areas are not ideal for rice fields and, therefore, only for corn plantation at its best.
Essensially, the Mendhak Sanggring event is the cooking and eating together of the sanggring vegetable soup conducted by the villagers. It is preceded with doing a prayer at the grave of Ki Buyut Terik who is believed to be the founder of the village. The whole process of cooking sanggring can only be done by men. The leader of the Juru Sanggring must also be a descendant of the previous Juru Sanggring and he must did fasting one day and night. The three large frying pans used are also heirlooms that have been used for generations to cook the sanggring soup.
According to tradition, the number of men involved in the cooking process is forty. Meanwhile, the women have their own duties in the kitchen such as preparing whole roasted chicken donated by residents, preparing food for guests and other matters that are not directly related to the mendhak sanggring ritual.
After being slaughtered, the chicken is plucked then boiled in hot water, and then the meat is shreded, then cooked with various spices in three large pans which must be done in the open air. There is a customary law that forbids Juru Sanggring from tasting the food because it is precisely the taste of the food that will be a sign of the future. If it tastes good, it means that their offering is accepted. On the other hand, if the food tastes too salty, too sweet or even unpleasant to taste, then it’s not good news.
This belief in sacredness is marked by the sincerity of the villagers in giving donations in the form of money, chicken (or eggs for those who do not have chicken), cooking ingredients, food for selamatan (ambeng) and also human resources. The leader of the ritual must also be held by the village head, as the legitimacy of the position and power of the village head who also serves as the adat head.
This nyanggring tradition also exists in Gresik. The ritual is usually held during the fasting month and enjoyed as an iftar meal but Tlemang ritual lasts for four consecutive days based on the Javanese calendar, which is every 24 to 27 of
The conclusion of the ritual takes place at the sacred cemetery - Henry Nurcahyo
Jumadil Awal. In addition, there is also the ritual of ndhudhug sumber or cleaning the springs, cleaning the tombs and performing wayang krucil, a traditional puppet show, for two consecutive days.
The Sanggring Ritual
On the first day, the series of events begins with cleaning up two sendhang (springs), sendhang wedok (female springs) and sendhang lanang (male springs). Previously, it was started by the Village Head (Kades) and village elders with a ritual of sprinkling young coconut water mixed with badheg (fermented cassava juice) and several ingredients. After that, the Modin leads a selamatan (a thanksgiving meal), with the dishes brought by each resident.
The second day is for the ritual at the tomb of the village founder Ki Buyut Terik. Residents clear the bushes so that the area around the tomb that is once lush and full of shrubs in a short time turns clean and full of lights. Understandably, for one year no one is allowed to enter the cemetery area. Meanwhile, at the tomb, the wrapping cloth is replaced, the roof of the alangalang leaf is also replaced, and the red and white cloth is also covered with a
new one.
According to a village elder, Mujiono (67 years old), Ki Buyut Terik (Raden Nurlali), is said to have come from the family of the King of Mataram who left the Mataram Kingdom around 1677 because he was disappointed with the Dutch colonial intervention. Raden Nurlali then headed east, serving and studying at Sunan Giri in Gresik who gave him the task of spreading Islam in the Lamongan area.
After the tomb area is cleaned, in the afternoon a recitation of the Muslim prayer is held in the form of istighosah prayer. This is indeed an additional event which according to tradition does not exist. It only started about ten years ago to adopt the interests of the Muslim clergy. On the third day, the wayang krucil performance starts early in the morning in the village head’s yard. Two goats are slaughtered for a selamatan as a special menu dedicated to Ki Buyut Terik which is then locked in a room. While the wayang krucil is still in progress, some residents led by the village head visit the grave of Ki Buyut Terik, offering prayers as a sign that the mendhak ritual is about to begin. After leaving the tomb, residents then enjoy a special dish with mutton meat in the village head’s yard.
The fourth day is the highlight of the mendhak sanggring ritual. There is another wayang krucil show with a
Preparing the grilled chicken dish - Henry Nurcahyo
different play where all the committee members and puppeteers are dressed in traditional clothes, which is unlike the previous stage where everyone wears everyday clothes.
At the same place and time, since the morning, villager donates a chicken each and a packet of jangkep seasoning and give donations for the implementation of this ritual. Some also donate firewood.
By noon the villagers will have flocked to the location. A total of 44 plates of sanggring are deliberately prepared by the committee as an offering for Ki Buyut Sanggring which have been stored in a closed room. After being prayed for, the food is then served to the guests. The performance of the wayang krucil, which will be approaching its peak, will be noticed by almost no one. All of the residents will concentrate on waiting for the distribution of sanggring. After the village head makes his remarks and the Modin deliver the players, the Juru Sanggring then start serving up the sanggring to the residents. After all the vegetables soup are used up, the leader of Juru Sanggring then rolls the pan as part of the tradition.
The tradition of mendhak sanggring is a means of community harmony. Even residents who live outside the city do not want to miss joining in this annual ritual. They stand in a very long line in the ritual to the tomb. They bring a pack of sow flowers and give alms to express their gratitude to God Almighty and make offerings to Ki Buyut Terik.
The final event is the tutup gedhek thanksgiving, an expression of gratitude because the ceremony has run smoothly. Meanwhile, in the middle of the crowd,
The soupy sanggring dish is locked in a room as an offeringbefore being served to the ritual participants Henry Nurcahyo
some residents throw coins to be grabbed by members of the crowd. This is called udhik and is an unforgettable part of this ritual. With the event ending, the residents gradually leave the location. (Henri Nurcahyo, Head of the BrangWetan Cultural Arts Community)
