The Aceh traditional ceremony khanduri blang (feast of rice fields) is one of Aceh's traditional ceremonies that is still preserved today.
Khanduri blang is a ceremony performed by farmers when they go down to the fields.
The traditional khanduri blang ceremony is important and sacred to be carried out by all farmers in Aceh and feels lacking if it is not carried out.
Khanduri blang is the same as the traditional Aceh ceremony which is the result of mixing Aceh's traditional culture and Islamic religion which was spread by Arab traders in Aceh.
This tradition is not lost even though the methods and processes are not exactly the same and have slightly changed from time to time or in some areas of Aceh where the rituals are not exactly the same.
Khanduri blang is a traditional Acehnese ceremony aimed at expressing gratitude to God Almighty for the sustenance obtained from the harvest by sharing among others.
Another purpose of khanduri blang apart from gratitude is also to establish kinship and mutual cooperation.
Process and Purpose of the Khanduri Blang Traditional Ceremony
Because khanduri blang is an obligation for farmers and is a routine ritual that is held, all local Acehnese people participate so that this ceremony takes place well.
The khanduri blang process will be carried out near the rice fields and the local community will bring the necessary cooking utensils such as spices, knives, cauldrons, cutting boards, vegetable containers, and others.
Well, in khanduri blang it will not be complete if you don't bring the animal to be sacrificed, namely a goat.
The goats were brought to the fields alive and then later slaughtered in the fields. All the people of Aceh will work together to prepare dishes from the goat meat that was slaughtered earlier.
They will cook rice, cook goats, and prepare all kinds of things needed. After that, the people of Aceh will pray to God Almighty, led by people who are old and understand religion.
The leader of this ritual prayer is called Tengku Immun, through Tengku Immun, the Acehnese hope that sustenance will always be bestowed in the form of abundant harvests.
Tengku immune after leading the prayer will announce when the fields will be plowed and plant seeds together.
This is the traditional khanduri blang ceremony performed by local Acehnese farmers.
The purpose of this traditional ceremony is as a form of gratitude to God Almighty and as a form of helping others by sharing some of the harvest to those in need.
