Sleman Residents Hold Rain Ritual Kenduri Banyu Udan to Fight Water Crisis

RRI.CO.ID, Sleman - Residents of Sardonoharjo Village, Ngaglik Subdistrict, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Province, together with the rainwater conservation Banyu Bening (Clean Water) Community, held the Kenduri Banyu Udan tradition on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The event is a hereditary ritual to ask for rain amid the current dry-season water crisis.

Chair of Komunitas Banyu Bening, Sri Wahyuningsih, explained that Kenduri Banyu Udan is a sacred tradition beginning with a prayer for safety. This is followed by a procession circling the stage seven times, which carries the philosophy of self-purification.

Sri said the number seven signifies seeking help from God Almighty so that all problems and disasters in Indonesia may soon end. The procession then continued with a kirab bregada, a parade of traditional warriors carrying gunungan (offering mounts) of vegetables and gunungan of rainwater packaged in plastic. Both gunungan were then scrambled for by residents hoping for blessings.

“This scramble for water reflects the current symbolic reality. People are scrambling for water everywhere, but it also philosophically illustrates that water is a public right and belongs to all of God’s creatures on Earth,” said Sri when met at the Banyu Bening Rainwater School in Sleman on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Kenduri Banyu Udan also featured dances using kendi (earthen jugs) filled with rainwater. The water in the jugs carried by the dancers was then poured into a large kendi.

Sri said this dance procession is an expression of prayer and gratitude. The tradition is expected to serve as a reminder for the community to take part in addressing the current water crisis by maintaining environmental balance.

On another note, Sri also invited residents to hold joint prayers for victims of recent forest and land fires as well as the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. “This is a form of concern and indeed an annual agenda, with the hope that through this activity we can begin, even in small ways, to address these problems,” said Sri.

A Ngaglik resident, Murniati, managed to obtain vegetables after scrambling with other residents. She said the mustard greens and long beans she obtained would be cooked and consumed with her family.

Murniati said this was her first time participating in the gunungan of vegetables scramble. She hoped the vegetables she obtained would also bring blessings. “May rain come soon, water be abundant, and usable by the community. It is hoped that disasters can also end soon and be handled by the administration,” said Murniati. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)