 BODY light as cotton, lightning-fast hands, and the horses as hard as
steel. Sharp eyes unblinking opponent like a hawk stalking prey marking.
One wrong move, skull pot. We started to swing the rattan bar, there
are only two choices; down home as a loser or being paraded as the
winner.
Perisean That's a traditional game that lasted for centuries in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Traditional Art Sasak tribe (tribal Lombok) that unite the two men in one arena fighter. Performing
this masculinity fighting something like the tradition of the ancient Roman gladiators.
The fighter called pepadu. Each equipped with a wooden shield covered with cow or buffalo leather, a square measuring 50 x 50 cm. Shield that is the origin of the name of this game. Rattan blade along approximately one meter, called penjalin become weapons.
Ritual
That said, perisean been played since the 13th century, originated from an agrarian society Lombok rituals to bring rain in the dry season. The fight is usually performed in a dry rice field.
To start the game, two pekembar (referee) will search for candidates or pepadu fighters who came from the crowd. Sometimes, the pepadu himself volunteered.
With a playful dance, both pekembar expert will offer each other. If both candidates deemed designated pepadu pekembar balanced, battle begins. If not, pekembar looking for another candidate.
Before the fight, both pepadu fitted headband (saput) and waist-cloth binding (bebadong). Subsequently, they were given a piece of betel leaf to chew. When the referee blew his whistle, and countered each other gebuk began.
The course of battle accompanied by gamelan sasak consisting of wasp drums, flutes, gongs, and rincik in a fast tempo. Songs are sung a special song perisean a mystical aura. Songs that would normally push up the spirit to fight and reduce the pain of the slashes rattan.
Perisean simple rules. Pepadu only allowed to hit parts of the body from the waist up, with the main target of the opponent's head. In other words, each one must be able to protect his head from the slashes of rattan.
Usually affected pepadu blow or blows on the opponent will feel like a teasing dance. Some say this to reduce the pain or to suppress emotions.
If the head is bleeding, pekembar will stop the fight and the winner was announced. The blood that falls in the arena that is believed to perisean bring rain. If up to the second round 3-4 pepadu still as strong, the referee will declare the results of the series.
Without rancor
Although each gebuk up bruised and bleeding, pepadu revenge never brings out the arena. Win or lose, after a fight, the two shook hands and hugged pepadu definitely. Everything begins and is completed within the arena.
Because sacred, perisean not be held any time. At the present time, perisean held ahead of the special celebrations, such as independence anniversary (August 17), anniversaries of districts, or ahead of Ramadan.
Compass chance to see the implementation in the public square perisean Monjok Village, Selaparang, Mataram, NTB, Monday (07/19/2010). Perisean was held for a week filled with various pepadu bring in from all over Lombok.
"Every year at least once held in our village. If not held in a year, usually people will ask the village elder, "said village headman Monjok, Budi Wartono.
Enthusiasm residents witnessed fighting perisean always high. Old, young, children, and women will be packed into the outskirts of the arena every time perisean held. They not only from the area surrounding, but also from other areas quite far.
No big prize for the winner. The committee is only giving money to the degree necessary, only tens of thousands of rupiah, or adjusted by the budget committee-based sales of tickets in the arena, parking, and donors.
"Sometimes given soap (the winner) will be accepted. Because it is not a prize being pursued, but a sense of pride in running the tradition, "said Budi.
Measuring greatness
Like the tradition that has roots in hundreds of years, perisean also inseparable from a sense of mystique. It's no secret if the contending pepadu equip themselves with various charms and spells. In addition to the physical battle and fighting techniques, perisean also known as a venue for measuring the supernatural power, especially for high-level pepadu.
Various stories circulated of which can bend rattan pepadu opponent without being touched, hurt opponents from the once double slashes rattan, to numb the blow.
Perisean roots and live in societies Lombok as a valuable cultural asset. Therefore, the Government plans to package Mataram this traditional art as a tourist attraction that could increase the attraction of the island of Lombok, which is now famous for its beautiful beaches. "We are heading there," said Head of Government Public Relations Mataram, Alwi.
From Kompas.com
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