Saman Dance, Traditional Dance From Aceh Indonesia

Saman Dance is a dance of Gayo tribe (Gayo Lues) commonly shown in celebrating important events in adat. Poetry in this saman dance uses Arabic and Gayo language. Besides this dance is also displayed to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW. From some literature mentioned that Saman dance in Aceh was founded and developed by Sheikh Saman, a scholar from Gayo in Southeast Aceh.



This Saman Dance was designated UNESCO as the List of Cultural Representative No Human Heritage in the Sixth Session Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of cultural heritage is not a UNESCO object in the province of Bali on November 24, 2011. Saman dance is one of the media for the achievement of the message (da'wah). This dance reflects education, courtesy, religion, heroism, cohesiveness, and togetherness.



Before this saman dance begins ie as a mukaddimah or opening, the appearance of a clever old or adat leader to represent the local community or useful advice to the cast and audience. Songs and poems are the way of expressing them together and continuously, this dance player consists of young men wearing custom clothing.



The presentation of the dance can also be performed between guest and group groups (2 groups). This assessment focuses on the ability of each group that follows the motion, dance, and song or poem presented by the opposing party. The singing of the dancers adds to the dynamism of the saman dance. How to sing a song in the dance saman divided into 5 kinds namely:

1. Rengum, is the roar that begins with the lifter.


2. Ringing, is a regnum that is soon followed by all the dancers.


3. Redet, is a short song with a short voice sung by dancers in the center of dance.


4. Syek, is a song sung by dancers in a long, high, and shrill voice, usually as a sign of a change of motion.


5. Saur, is a song that is repeated together by all dancers after being sung by the solo dancer.

Caru Tawur Kesanga, The Ritual of Purifying Yourself

Caru Tawur Kesanga is a ritual that must be performed by Hindu people before performing worship Nyepi or Brata Penyepian. Ritual Caru Tawur Kesanga is presented by Hindus to Bhuta Kala (evil in human nature). This ritual belongs to the Blind Yadnya or a ceremony deliberately addressed to the blind or kala, ie the impulse or negative desire that emerges from within the human self.



In Tawur Kesanga, youth and other Hindus will make Ogoh-ogoh, which is a representation of the giant Bhuta Kala which is then paraded and then burned in their respective temples.

Ogoh-Ogoh Burning Procession

There are 6 negative impulses that exist in man, namely Kroda (anger), Mada (drunkenness), Kama (lust), Lobha (greedy and greedy), Matsarya (Greedy, revenge, jealousy), and Moha (confusion). Bhuta Kala is then made in the form of sculpture and called by Ogoh-ogoh.



After Caru Tawur Kesanga, the next day Hindus perform Brata Penyepian, ie do not do things that are worldly such as traveling, turn on electricity and fire, and others during the period of one full day, ie from 6 am to 6 am the next day. The purpose of this Brata Penyepian is to purify themselves back for Hindus and to make themselves better in the new Saka year.