... I am deeply impressed by the clean river water flowing near the graveyard of Kyai Dudo, the figure who is closely related to the birth of the traditional Bulusan celebration...Kudus, Central Java (ANTARA News) - A clean river will enable the residents of Jekulo Subdistrict in Kudus Regency, Central Java Province, to keep preserving the traditional Bulusan celebration, Kudus regent Musthofa said.
Therefore, the event held a week after Idul Fitri to remember two Kyai Dudo's students who became softshell turtles (bulus, Indonesian language) is expected to encourage local people to keep the river flowing near his graveyard clean, Musthofa said.
Speaking at the peak of the Bulusan celebration taking place in Sumber Hamlet, Hadipolo Village, Jekulo Subdistrict, on July 24, he said the river water flowing near the graveyard of Kyai Dudo was clean enough in his early childhood.
"I am deeply impressed by the clean river water flowing near the graveyard of Kyai Dudo, the figure who is closely related to the birth of the traditional Bulusan celebration," he said.
Due to the cleanliness of the river during his childhood, the softshell turtles sometimes emerged from the river water at that time, he said.
The Bulusan festivity is regarded by the local people as the commemoration of the birthday of Kumoro and Komari, students of Kyai Dudo, who became softshell turtles as a result of Sunan Muria's words.
According to a legend, Sunan Muria, one of nine propagators of Islam in Java, visited his good friend named Kyai Dudo in Hadipolo Village to celebrate Nuzulul Quran (the day commemorating the advent of Quran, Islam's holy book).
On his way, Sunan Muria found Kumoro and Komari, two students of Kyai Dudo, still taking rice stalks instead of joining others to read the Quran on the night of the 17th day of the holy month of Ramadhan.
Sunan Muria then stopped walking and talked to them: "On the day of the Nuzulul Quran, why you do not recite the Quran. Instead, you remain in the paddy field and submerge like softshell turtles!"
As a result of Sunan Muria's words, Kumoro and Komari turned into softshell turtles. For tens of years, the local people have held the traditional "Bulusan" celebration a week after Idul Fitri to commemorate them.
Kudus regent Musthofa said the condition of the river water, which is closely related to this annual event looks dirty. Therefore, the local people are expected to be motivated by the Bulusan celebration to keep the river clean.
The cleanliness of the river, he said, is important because the area where the traditional Bulusan celebration takes place has become a tourist destination.
Meanwhile, Head of Hadipolo Village Wawan Setiawan said this year's Bulusan celebration was used for entertaining but also introducing the potency of 12 villages in Jekulo Subdistrict to visitors.
The peak of this cultural festivity showcased art carnivals and performances of students from various schools in the subdistrict, Setiawan said.
Reporter: Akhmad Lathif
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
