KBRN, Lebak: The Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy) region, encompassing the villages of Cibeo, Cikeusik, and Cikawartana in Lebak Regency, Banten, has announced its closure to the public. Due to the Kawalu ritual, the region will be closed to tourists from February 1 to May 3, 2025.

The Baduy Dalam is a tribe in the remote, mountainous region of Banten Province.

"We request that tourists do not enter the Baduy Dalam area during the Kawalu ritual," said the Tribal Elder who is also the Head of Kanekes Village, the name for the village inhabited by the Baduy tribe, Jaro Oom, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, rri.co.id quoted.

The village administration has conveyed the Kawalu ritual celebration to the Lebak Regency Administration.

Kawalu is a three-month purification ritual of the Baduy tribe in Indonesia. During this time, the Baduy villages are closed to outsiders, and the Baduy people focus on fasting, prayer, and expressing gratitude for the year's blessings to Sang Hyang Karesa (God Almighty).

During this ritual period, only certain individuals can visit with special permission.

The Kawalu celebration is a mandate from ancestral traditions that must be carried out every year for three consecutive months after the main harvest.

Kawalu comes from the word walu, which means to return or go home. This ceremony is also known as ngukus or burning incense, which is used to accompany offerings of worship to ancestors.

Kawalu is a segment of the religious festivities in Baduy Dalam, encompassing the Ngalanjakan, Kawalu, Ngalaksa, and Seba ceremonies.

The Ngalanjakan ceremony involves a communal hunt in the forest to gather food in preparation of the Kawalu ritual.

Ngalaksa is carried out by bringing rice to the barn and making laksa, a type of wide flat noodle made from rice flour to express gratitude to God Almighty. This ceremony expresses the local community's belief in Nyi Pohaci (Fertility Goddesses) and Karuhun (ancestral spirits).

The Seba ritual involves presenting the harvest as a form of gratitude intended to establish good relations with the authorities. In the past, it was intended for the Banten Sultanate, which ruled over the Baduy lands.

Now, Seba is carried out by visiting the Regent of Lebak in Rangkasbitung and the Governor of Banten in Serang.

Kawalu Ritual

During Kawalu, the entire Baduy Dalam community observes a full-day fast, commencing at 5 p.m. the day before the main event and concluding at 5 p.m. the following day.

This is carried out in the Baduy calendar months of Kasa, Karo, and Katilu.

The fast is observed for one day a month, such as on the 17th of Kasa, known as Kawalu Tembey or the First Kawalu.

Subsequently, fasting on the 18th of Karo is termed Kawalu Tengah pr middle Kawalu. Lastly, it occurs on the 17th of Katilu, called Kawalu Tutug or last Kawalu.

Throughout the fast, they are not permitted to eat or drink until it is nearly time to break the fast.

The significance of Kawalu lies in self-purification from malevolent desires.

Every 15th of Kasa or before fasting, all Baduy Dalam residents must clean the surroundings and are prohibited from eating or processing the harvest. They are solely permitted to grind rice using the traditional method known as "nutu."

"We hope that the Kawalu tradition will run smoothly. May this nation prosper," said Jaro Oom again.

The Kawalu ritual in the Baduy Dalam area lasts three months, starting on February 1 and ending in May 2025.

However, tourists can still visit other Baduy areas, namely Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy), such as Kaduketug village and other villages.

Lebak Regency Culture and Tourism Agency Head Imam Rismahayadin said that the Kawalu tradition is very sacred to the Baduy Dalam community. The event must be carried out and closed to tourists. ***