"This activity took place from Thursday to Friday. The community took out a procession by placing a goat's head on the border of Pondok Ranggon and Harjamukti Villages, Depok," the chief of Pondok Ranggon village, Jenuri, said here on Friday.
The goat's head symbolized animal traits that exist in humans, he explained.
"It is just a symbol. The goal is to thank God for the fortune that has been given to Pondok Ranggon and as a hope that no disaster will occur in this area," he said.
According to him, the festival's activities are not grim, but are part of a combined tradition of Betawi and Sundanese cultures with Islamic nuances that have existed since the past.
In addition to the procession, the people of Pondok Ranggon on Thursday held the tahlilan (thanksgiving tradition) at the Kramat Ganceng Tomb and gave donations to 500 orphans and the poor.
The activities conducted during the festival included Pesta Rakyat (the people's party), a showcase of the Betawi Mask, Baritan to express gratitude for an abundant crop harvest, puppet play Wayang Golek, Ondel-Ondel, and Tanjidor traditional musical instrument show.
Jenuri said that people's enthusiasm was very high considering that the Hajat Bumi Kramat Ganceng Festival had not been held for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The enthusiasm was very high. Many residents participated in the procession," he informed.
Therefore, he expressed the hope that the festival, which is held every Dzulhijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, will continue to be carried out because of the positive values it promotes.
"In addition to preserving Betawi culture, this activity can also boost the economy of the community. There are hundreds of small and medium businesses who participated in the people's party," he said.
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Translator: Syaiful H, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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