Balimau Kasai is a special traditional ceremony for the people of Kampar in Riau province to welcome the holy month of Ramadan. This event is usually held the day of the advent of the fasting month. This traditional ceremony other than as an expression of gratitude and joy into the month of fasting, is also a symbol of purification and cleansing. Balimau itself meaningful bath using water mixed citrus by local people called lemons. Oranges are commonly used are lime, orange juice, and orange cotton. While the lotion is the scent that is used when the wash. For the people of Kampar, fragrances, hair (shampoo) is believed to expel all sorts of ill will existing in the head, before it enters the month of fasting.
Actual ceremony itself clean or bathe before the incoming month of Ramadan not only community-owned Kampar only. If in Kampar this ceremony is often known by the name Balimau Kasai, then in the City of Pelalawan better known as Kasai Potang Balimau Mamogang. In West Sumatra is also known that almost similar terms, ie Balimau Bath. Especially for the City of Pelalawan, additional words have any meaning potang mamogong the evening because it pointed to the time of the event.
Kasai Balimau tradition in Kampar, it is said, has lasted for centuries since the area is still under the rule of the kingdom. Ceremony to welcome the arrival of Ramadan is believed to be originated from the habits of Raja Pelalawan. But there is also another opinion that says that this traditional ceremony came from West Sumatra. For the people of Kasai Balimau Kampar own ceremony considered a mixture of Hindu-Muslim tradition that has existed since the kingdom of Muara Takus power.
Balimau Kasai is a customary event that contains a unique sacred values. Travellers who follow the show can watch the Kampar and the surrounding community flocked to the banks of the river (Sungai Kampar) to perform a ritual bath together. Before people throw themselves into the river, bathing ritual begins with a meal together, which the society is often called meal majamba. This banquet was attended by community leaders, religious leaders, government officials, general public, as well as by the indigenous elders diramaikan (inner head) that uses tribal attributes (milestone tonggol), which has tens of years old.
After that, towards evening, the ceremony began with how to bathe community leaders, traditional leaders, government officials and religious leaders at the edge of Sungai Kampar. The process of bathing the characters are then followed by the general public by way of plunging into the river is abuzz. After that, the leaders shook hands with the community as an expression of request for mutual forgiveness. Moreover, in this ritual tourists can also witness a series of events Balimau Kasai, such as decorative canoe race, a single orgent staging, the festival of traditional arts, and dangdut music performances.
The event is usually centered in Kasai Balimau Batubelah Village, subdistrict of Kampar, Kampar District, Riau Province, Indonesia.
Cut Stone Village as a place that is often used as the central Kasai Balimau celebration is about 58 km from the town of Pekanbaru. Visitors can visit these villages using public transportation or private vehicle to the location of Pekanbaru City celebrations.
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