Take a Look at The Mystic Dance in Banyuwagi: Seblang Dance

Take a Look at The Mystic Dance in Banyuwagi: Seblang Dance

Image source: https://www.instagram.com/desa_olehsari/ > https://www.instagram.com/p/CdXocNTLxT1/

Comprising a lot of tribes and race diversity. It’s no secret that the region of Indonesia is cultures, rituals and traditions rich. Even in this modern era, Indonesian people are still enthusiastically upholding their forefathers' extensive rituals and traditions. There’s one sort of ritual in Indonesia, where they involve trance and possession phenomena packed in the form of a dance and you can find it in different countries. The first one, is the Shangyang dance of Bali, the Sintren Dance of west java, and the Seblang dance of Banyuwangi. On this occasion, we will talk about the Seblang dance of Banyuwangi: The most mythical dance in Banyuwangi.

One of the Banyuwangi traditions that are still eagerly preserved is the Seblang dance. This tradition is being held in the belief to throw away any kind of bad luck and treat of dangers. Coming from Banyuwangi's native language or ‘Osing language’, Seblang is an abbreviation from Sebele Ilang which means removing bad influence. Aside from throwing bad lucks away, Banyuwangi people believe that by doing this ritual, they will get prosperity.

Seblang is an authentic ritual and tradition from Osing Tribes (Banyuwangi native people) which is performed by a tranced dancer for seven days straight. The seblang dancer will be crowned with flowers and banana leaves and will dance under a huge umbrella while wandering around the musicians. There are two types of seblang dance, the first is the seblang Olehsari and the second is the seblang bakungan.

The Banyuwangi district, sub-district Glagah, hosts both seblang Olehsari and bakungan. However, the village in which these events are taking place is different. Seblang Olehsari is held at Olehsari village, whereas Seblang bakungan is held in bakungan village. Furthermore, there are other distinctions between the two seblang dances, ranging from the time of performance to the selection of dancers, the clothing worn by the dancers, the musical instruments used, and the existing ritual processions.

On this occasion, we'll talk more about the seblang Olehsari dance. This one seblang dance is part of the Banyuwangi Festival's tourism agenda, which is held annually, 7 days after the Islamic Eid Al-Fitr.

Seblang Olehsari

Image source: https://www.instagram.com/desa_olehsari/ > https://www.instagram.com/p/CdXocNTLxT1/

To perform the Seblang dance, a dancer must be possessed by the spirits of her ancestors. And in the process, there are 28 chants of gending (Javanese instrumentals) accompanying the spirit entering process which begins with Gending Lukinto. The Olehsari residents believe the tones of this gending can be a summoner of spirits or the awakening of a subtle force to come to the Seblang ritual. To check whether the spirit has tranced the dancer's body or not, there's a handler who will shake the dancer's body to the right and left, If the dancer's tampah or bamboo tray falls and the dancer's body falls backwards, it means the ancestor spirit has possessed the dancer. The Olehsari residents call this state Kejiman.

FROM HERE ON, THE RITE IS STARTED!

In the ritual process, the tranced seblang dancer will dance with her eyes closed and move according to the handler's instruction. In the middle of the ritual, the seblang dancer will sell flowers to the audience, this flower is believed to reject reinforcements. And what's interesting about this ritual is there's a part named tundikan process where the seblang dancer will invite the audience to dance along with her. You have to be glad if you’re chosen! Everyone who is being chosen is believed to receive blessings and good luck.

On the seventh day of the ritual, there will be ider bumi process where the seblang dance will be paraded around the Olehsari village. The dancer will be accompanied by her handler, the Sinden (a female singer who accompanied the gamelan orchestra), and all the apparatus to go to the four chosen areas. They are the Mbah Ketut Site (the believed Olehsari village origin site), Lahan Petahunan, Sumber Tengah, and the last place is the Olehsari Balai Desa (Village Hall).

Finally, the parade procession ended the Seblang Olehsari ritual

If you visit Banyuwangi when the seblang dance ritual is being held, it's highly recommended to spare a little time to watch it. Banyuwangi’s Seblang ritual not only presents magical aspects, but it also entertains the visitors and local residents, as the Seblang dancer performs a number of amusing acts. Seblang Olehsari is one of the events on the Banyuwangi Festival tourism agenda, according to Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas. You just need to come to the location and watch it. There's no fee charged and you can watch it at the time it's being held around 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM (GMT +7)

References:

• https://banyuwangitourism.com/festival/seblang-Olehsari

• https://www.indonesia-tourism.com/east-java/tourism/banyuwangi/seblang-dance.html

• https://www.kompasiana.com/dietafarina7501/5cfe91e13d68d5058d1a1dc2/seblang-the-mystic-dance-of-banyuwangi

• https://indonesiatraveler.id/tari-seblang-ritual-tari-penuh-mistis-di-banyuwangi/