Hello friends at Cross Culture!
Greetings to all my friends , I'm a newcomer to this wonderful community! Before that , let me briefly introduce myself... I'm a person who loves to tell stories, especially simple things that turn out to have deep meaning... Today, I want to share my experience of participating in the annual tradition that I always look forward to in my hometown because I have never encountered this kind of thing overseas so I took the time to return to my hometown just because I wanted to enliven this traditional culture...
That morning, the sound of kentongan echoed throughout Bedoyo village. It was not a call for danger, but a call to gather for an annual event we call "Bersih Desa". - a village cleaning tradition held every year to coincide with our village's birthday...
In front of the village hall, dozens of residents had gathered... enthusiastic young people carrying cleaning tools. After the cleaning activities are over, there will usually be a carnival around the village with various attractions and traditional costumes. This is the part that makes Bersih Desa not just an ordinary cleaning activity, but a lively cultural celebration.
At around two in the afternoon , the carnival began... I watched from the side of the road and occasionally swayed to the music... Various groups in unique and colorful costumes began to walk around the village.
• The first group to pass by were men in bright red uniforms complete with eye-catching red conical hats. They walked with neat steps like a small, compact army, carrying small flags that fluttered in the wind.
• Soon after, a group of ladies wearing uniform yellow kebayas emerged, elegantly dressed. Their bright yellow color glistened in the afternoon sun, creating a warm and mesmerizing sight... They walked gracefully while smiling at the citizens watching from the roadside...
• The most interesting was the group in traditional brown batik attire... The women wore beautiful brown batik kebaya, complemented by beautiful traditional head accessories. The classic batik cloths they wore made the carnival feel even more authentic and Javanese.
• In the middle of the carnival, there was a group that came up with a unique concept - they wore maroon clothes with black and white batik cloth as the bottom. This combination of colors and motifs created a beautiful harmony, especially when they walked together in a neat formation.
• The atmosphere was even more festive when a small truck decorated with various traditional ornaments appeared. On the truck, several people sit. There are also those who use traditional carts decorated with yellow janur and various decorations typical of village celebrations.
• Equally interesting are the groups with more freeform costume concepts - some dress up as pirates complete with quirky accessories, others combine traditional elements with a creative modern twist. Yellow tendrils were used as decorations that flowed beautifully, creating a mesmerizing visual effect as they moved.
• The carnival procession gets longer with the presence of various floats. There are trucks named "CV Siti Agung" and "Pandawa" that enliven the event, complete with passengers who participate in the festivities. There was even a small tractor that was transformed into a float with various traditional ornaments.
Along the carnival route, people flocked out of their houses to watch. Children ran around following the procession with sparkling eyes full of enthusiasm, while adults swayed from the roadside. A joyful atmosphere was felt in every corner where the carnival passed.
I was swept up in the excitement. Occasionally shouting encouragement to the participants, and often clapping along to the rhythm of the accompanying traditional music... There is a sense of pride that is hard to explain seeing the traditions of my hometown can still be celebrated so lively...
The carnival ends at the village square with various performances. There are traditional dances, exhibitions of the best costumes, and last but not least - games and competitions for all ages. In the evening, while enjoying traditional food and warm drinks, we sat together talking about the excitement of the day.
This tradition taught me that mutual cooperation is not all about hard work. There is joy, there is creativity, there is solidarity that is woven so naturally. And the carnival at the end of the event proved that preserving culture can be done in a fun way and involve all levels of society.
For friends who also have similar traditions in their area , let's share stories...! I'm very curious about the uniqueness of traditions from various regions. And for those who have never participated in an event like this , hopefully one day you can experience the same excitement. See you in the next story...!
Warm greetings from Bedoyo Village