Interpreting Sundanese ritual practices at the mikul lodong ceremony in Cipatat, West Bandung, Indonesia

Figures & data

Pictures 1, 2, 3. Lodong and Otib harness dance by traditional leaders praying in the Cikahuripan River.

Source: Primary Data collected by the authors.

Table 1. Meaning of ideas in mikul lodong ritual.

No	Ideas	Discourse	Symbols	Meaning
1	Initiation rituals Increased martial arts skills	Aiming to fill water in an empty lodong.	1. Empty sling 2. SpringWater	The empty soul must be filled with knowledge and must be able to bear the responsibility.
2	mikul lodong Dance	Dancing mikul lodong Adegkeun Rengkenekna	mikul lodong Dance moves	The responsibility that martial arts students must bear and utilize their skills for good.
3	Ritual Locations at Cikarahayuan and Cikahuripan Springs	The water of God’s creation is the source of life	Water and springs	Water is a part of the human body that must be replenished with energy from its source, the spring.

Table 2. Meaning of symbols in mikul lodong ritual.

No	Social institutions	Activities	Symbols	Meaning
1	Education	Filling the lodong with water and praying.	Ethics Exams/Norms Religion / Faith	Study earnestly. Responsible for the knowledge gained, and communication with the creator of the universe
2	Art and Culture	Fetches water, dance, and provide shared meals.	Social Ethics Aesthetic Cultural Ethics	Togetherness Expression of artistic talent Social interaction and integrity
3	Living Environment	Maintaining bamboo trees, Cikarahayuan and Cikahuripan springs mikul lodong Ritual	Ethics Ethics Culture	Enculturation Environmental conservation Live

Table 3. Meaning of cultural form symbols in mikul lodong ritual.

No	Cultural forms	Discourse	Symbols	Meaning
1	Ngukus	A cloud of smoke floats on the stage	Smoke	Transcendent communication
2	Offerings	The Study of Nature and Self	The Paradox of Opposition	Learn from natural objects and paradoxical concepts
3	Taking Holy Water	Talari paranti mipit should be very good to do with some work and try to inhale huripna	Religious Ethics	Be aware of nature and realize all things in the possession of the Almighty
4	Murak Tumpeng	Bead tops	Tumpeng	Togetherness reaches the peak of happiness(gratitude)
5	Mikul Lodong Dance	Ibing Dance of mikul lodong gets bigger	Dance, and Mikul Lodong	Dance is a cultural creation and mikul lodong is a dance for initiation.

Picture 4. Offerings in mikul lodong ritual.

Source: Primary data collected by authors.

Picture 5. Sacred water (Karomah) fetching at the Cikahuripan River by students and prayers by traditional leaders and Abah Otib.

Source: Primary data collected by authors.