Ruwat Gimbal

The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng

By Universitas Budi Luhur

Muhammad Ady Nugeraha

The Dieng Plateau

The Dieng Plateau in Central Java is part of a giant volcanic complex that sits at 2000 metersabove the sea level to the west of Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing.

The Dieng Plateau

The plateau houses eight ancient Shaivites Hindu temples and the name Dieng derives from the Sanskrit word “dihyang”, meaning “the place of ancestors”.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

Although the majority of today’s population are Muslim, the Dieng communities is one of the fewcultural groups that still practices their ancestral Kejawen tradition, a Hindu-Javanese syncretic beliefs.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

Native Dieng communities possess unique genetic traits. Some of their children would grow dreadlock hair or gimbal as the locals call it.

It occurs randomly between infancy to early childhood and is marked by several days of fever before their hair turns.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

The locals believe that these dreadlock children are the descendants of Kyai Kolo Dete and his wife Nini Roro Rence. Kyai Kolo Dete was an emissary of the Mataram kingdom and beloved for his compassion towards common folks.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

Legend has it that he obtained his power from KanjengRatu Kidul, a powerful deity who rules the Indian Ocean. Thus, the dreadlock children areconsidered as sacred figures within the community.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

Every first day of Suro month, which marks the new year in Javanese calendar, the Dieng communities hold a ceremony to trim the hair of dreadlock children at Arjuna Temple. Known as ruwat gimbal, the ceremony is meant to cleanse the soul and avoid sukerta or misfortune.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

Before the ritual begins, the dreadlock children may ask for a gift of their liking. Some asked fora simple gift of fried fish, while others had asked for an iPhone. 

At the end of the ceremony theirhair is dropped into Telaga Warna, which flows to the Indian Ocean, as offering to its owner Kanjeng Ratu Kidul.

Ruwat Gimbal: The Sacred Dreadlock of Dieng (2022-10-18/2022-10-18) by Widi dan RizkiUniversitas Budi Luhur

The annual ceremony has become a popular tourist attraction and in 2016, the Ministry ofEducation and Culture established the ruwat gimbal as one of Indonesia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Credits: Story

Article : Muhammad Ady Nugeraha 
Photo : Widi and Rizki

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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