RRI.CO.ID, Maros - Amidst the rapid modernization of South Sulawesi, the Kekaraengan (Kingdom) of Marusu in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi is taking a stand to preserve its cultural soul through the Katto Bokko, a harvest tradition festival.

This ancient rite serves as a living bridge between the region's royal history and the contemporary agricultural community, ensuring that ancestral wisdom remains relevant in the 21st century.

The festival is more than a mere celebration of agricultural yield, it is a deliberate act of cultural resistance and preservation. By maintaining the traditional collaborative spirit between the customary leaders and the local farmers, the Marusu Kingdom ensures that the social fabric of the region remains tightly knit.

The customary leader of the Marusu Kingdom, Abd Waris Karaeng Sioja, emphasized on Saturday that the survival of the ritual depends entirely on the community's commitment to collective action.

"The value of togetherness is the primary key so that the Katto Bokko tradition remains alive and is not eroded by the changing times," Karaeng Sioja said, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that while the formal governance of the kingdom has evolved, the spirit of preparing and executing the customary feast is still meticulously guarded by all levels of society.

A unique pillar of this preservation effort is the rejection of modern hybrid seeds in favor of sacred ancestral varieties. Farmers in the region continue to cultivate ase lapang and ase banda, ancient rice varieties known for their large grains and natural resilience.

"The values of togetherness and mutual cooperation between the kingdom and the community are maintained through this preservation," he explained, adding that these specific seeds have proven their worth against pests and diseases over centuries, serving as a biological identity for the Marusu people.

The enduring nature of the festival has also caught the attention of scholars. An academic from the Muslim University of Indonesia (UMI) Makassar, Hadawiah Harita said that the strength of Katto Bokko lies in successful "cultural communication" that spans generations.

“The cultural traditions that are still firmly held show that cultural communication is working effectively, so that the values contained within can continue to be understood and implemented by people across generations,” Hadawiah observed.

She suggested that the community’s ability to translate ancient meanings into a modern context is what prevents the ritual from becoming a stagnant relic.

Through this synergy of traditional leadership, agricultural local wisdom, and academic validation, the Marusu Kingdom remains optimistic that Katto Bokko will continue to thrive as a cornerstone of South Sulawesi’s cultural identity for decades to come. ***