The Form of Kejawen Islam in Nyanggar Janur Kuning Rituals in Indonesia

Abstract

Java is an island rich in ancestral heritage. Many of these traditions are still maintained in the modern world. The tradition that still survives is the Nyanggar Kuning ritual. That tradition is a form of Islamic and Javanese syncretism. Although claimed as a legacy of Javanese tradition (kejawen), the tradition actually developed after the colonialism in Indonesia ended. Until now, the relics in the form of rituals are more familiarly called religious tourism. The religious identity that appears in these activities is of course clearly Islamic. Indirectly, Nyangar Janur Kuning is the way for Islam in controlling the Java region by infiltrating culture.  This tradition is a politics conveyed by people who have power and authority. This paper tells the view of Nyanggar Janur Kuning from the perspective of post-colonialism and it also presents some evidences that Javanese culture is never entirely pure.