Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Warak Ngendhog, a tradition.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Begitu banyak cara yang dilakukan orang untuk menyambut Ramadhan. Di Semarang, binatang imajiner Warak Ngendhog muncul setiap kali menjelang Ramadhan

There are so many ways for Moslems all around the world to welcome Ramadhan, the fasting month. Here in Semarang, an imaginary animal called Warak, shows up to welcome Ramadhan.

Setiap bulan Sya'ban, bulan sebelum Ramadhan, ada semacam festival di Semarang yaitu Dugderan. Bisa dibilang ini seperti pasar malam, tapi barang-barang yang dijual adalah khas dugderan. Di antaranya celengan sapi dari tanah liat dengan berbagai ukuran, piranti masak-masakan, dan salah satunya adalah Warak.

Every Sya’ban, the month before Ramadhan, we have a festival, a fair, any thing you call it. We call it Dugderan. So many goods are sold there. But what makes it unique is there are special toys for boys girls sold only in this fair, and one of those is Warak.

Warak adalah binatang imajiner. Badannya berbentuk seperti kambing, namun kepalanya seperti naga. Warak yang berupa mainan, ukurannya relatif kecil. Memiliki empat roda. Bulu keritingnya yang seksi warna warni meriah dibuat dari kertas minyak. Belum diketahui dengan pasti sejak kapan binatang khayalan ini ditemukan, pun siapa penemunya. Para pengrajin mengaku mendapatkan keterampilan membuat warak ini secara turun temurun tanpa mengetahui sejarahnya.

Warak is an imaginary animal. Its body is like goat but its head is lika dragon’s. Warak as a toy is small. It has four wheels so you can put a rope on it, and pull it while walking, and it will follow you like a dog. Its curly sexy hair made of colorful oil paper. Nobody knows who invented Warak, or when it was invented. People who make and sell Warak nowadays get the ability making it from their parents without knowing history behind.

Puncak dari Dugderan adalah festival Warak Ngendhog. Ngendhog adalah bahasa Jawa yang berarti bertelur. Apakah ini berarti Warak itu betina? Atau sebenarnya ada betina dan jantannya, tapi hanya betinanya saja yang ikut festival? Bukan juga. Sebenarnya, malah tidak jelas apakah ada warak jantan, betina, ataukah dia hermaphrodite...

The culmination of Dugderan is the Warak Ngendhog Parade. ‘Ngendhog’ is Javanese means having eggs. The Waraks are having eggs.. Does it mean Warak is female? Or there male and female, but only the female ones join the parade?Not really. It’s not even clear whether warak is male, female or hermaphrodite…

Festival Warak Ngendhog diselenggarakan tepat sehari sebelum Ramadhan, yang kali ini jatuh pada tanggal 21 Agustus 2009. Kebetulan kemarin aku sedang berada di Jalan Pemuda, jalur yang dilalui arak-arakan festival yang diawali dari Balaikota, melalui jalan-jalan protokol dan berakhir di Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah.

Warak Ngendhog Parade is held right one day before Ramadhan. This year it is on August 21. Fortunately I was there on the street where the parade was held, before it is going to Masjid Agung Jawa Tengah




Warak yang diarak untuk festival tentu saja berbeda dengan warak mainan yang dijual di Dugderan. Ukurannya lebih besar, rata-rata sebesar sapi bahkan ada yang lebih. Dandanannya pun lebih meriah baik deri segi warna maupun bentuknya. Kepala naganya lebih nyata, sebagian dibuat mirip dengan kepala barongsai yang bermata genit itu.

Waraks for the parade are off course different with the toy version. They are in bigger size, as big as a cow, some even more. They also dress up more colorful. The dragon head looks more real. Some are made like a Barongsai head.





Susah banget mau ngambil gambar yang bagus, penontonnya padee....ttt!!

It was a little bit difficult to take a good shot. Look at the crowd.....





Jadi... Selamat menjalankan ibadah Bulan Ramadhan!

So… Happy fasting month, for Moslems all around the world!

12 comments:

Ms Mushroom said...

selamat puasa mbak latree :)

pinkparis said...

Have a great fasting month for you too :)

Cecily R said...

Fabulous pictures...what a fun way to celebrate!!

Are You Serious! said...

♥ Great pictures! It looks like a fun parade! :)

Chris said...

I love that dragon!

tiarastantrums said...

loved reading this piece of your culture

kayerj said...

I enjoyed your post--but I don't know the proper greeting, but have a nice fasting month. Here’s my photo story. happy Friday!

Heidi said...

Happy Fasting Month!
I learned a lot in your post, thanks for the enlightenment!
If you'd like to stop by my blog I'm at Cake Crumbs.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

I always enjoy learning about your culture. Thanks.
What an interesting way to bring on the month of fasting. Happy fasting.

sawali tuhusetya said...

entah sudah berapa tahun saya tidak lagi menyaksikan arak2an warak ngendog sejak pindah ke kendal, mbak. dugderan juga sudah mulai jarang menyaksikan lagi, hehe ...

Lawni Tenisa said...

selamat puasa, mbak. liat parade dugderan jadi tambah kangen semarang :P

Forgetfulone said...

So interesting! Glad you included photos, too.