ASIATODAY.ID, BALI – The Balinese Hindu community once every 210 days performs the Tumpek Pengatag ceremony as a commemoration of the descent of the power of manifestation of Sang Hyang Widhi or God as Sang Hyang Sangkara or the ruler of plants. The descent of Sang Hyang Sangkara into the world to grant fertility and prosperity to the universe and its contents, especially for Hindus.
Tumpek Pengatag also called Tumpek Bubuh, Tumpek Uduh, Tumpek Wariga, or Tumpek Pengarah which in Balinese calendar calculation falls on Saniscara Kliwon Wuku Wariga is held as a form of gratitude to God for the grace of food yields. Tumpek Pengatag by Balinese Hindus can be interpreted as a form of implementation of the concept of sustainable agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture is a strategy of combining economic, social, and environmental concerns in the management of agricultural systems. The aim is to meet the food needs of the present without compromising the capabilities of future generations. The concept includes practices that consider environmental impacts and ensure sustainable food production in the long term.
Ecologically, Tumpek Pengatag teaches the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance, which is one of the implications of sustainable agriculture. Balinese people perform tree-planting rituals during this celebration to demonstrate the health of the environment and the sustainability of nature. This effort is by the principles of sustainable agriculture that emphasize environmental protection and afforestation.
In terms of education, Tumpek Pengatag can help people learn about the importance of respecting plants and protecting nature. People can become more aware of environmental sustainability if they understand what it means and how to do it. Sustainable agriculture means combining agricultural production, social welfare, and ecological balance. Sustainable agricultural practices include wise management of natural resources, reduction of pollution and waste, and an approach that considers both economic and social aspects in the long term.
The Tumpek Pengatag ceremony is an indicator of the importance of environmentally sustainable agriculture to maintain food security. Policies that support sustainable agriculture and wise management of natural resources can improve food security. There is also a deep meaning for farmers in maintaining natural fertility and ensuring food security for the Balinese people. Food security is not only about food production but also about the balance of ecosystems that support agricultural sustainability. Everyone can take concrete action by planting trees, supporting reforestation programs, and fighting illegal logging. These contributions are already part of the effort to maintain food security and protect the environment.
Tumpek Pengatag for Balinese Hindus is a time when the God Sanghyang Sangkara, who is responsible for the safety of plants, descends to the earth. He is in charge of keeping plants fertile, safe from pests and diseases, and producing good yields. It is called Tumpek Pangatag because the sayings used to consecrate the plants are accompanied by a procession of data, which is banging on the stems of the plants being consecrated. One of the sayings used is :
“Kaki kaki dadong kija? I Dadong jumah, tiyang mapengarah buin selae dina jani galungan apang mabuah nged….nged…… nged”.
Meaning:
“Grandparents, where is Grandmother? Grandmother is at home, I will convey again twenty-five days from today’s Galungan Day so that the fruit will be abundant…abundant”.
Based on the dialogue, it can be estimated that the first to exist on earth were plants rather than humans, hence the analogy with the word grandfather, the elder. Balinese people believe that if plants and animals are preserved and taken care of, they will also help humans. Analogously, the Tumpek Pengatag ceremony encourages humans to do good to nature and its contents. By the law of karma (cause and effect), if humans do good to nature, nature and its contents will also give the best to humans, namely sweet and fresh fruit. Plants also maintain the ecosystem. If the ecosystem is aligned, harmonious, and balanced, the dry season will not cause drought, the rainy season will not cause flooding, the wind blows well and normally, the ozone layer will be maintained, global warming will not occur, and the polar ice caps will not melt.
Tumpek Pengatag is often referred to as Tumpek Bubuh, due to the use of marrow porridge in the upakara. This porridge is offered as a symbol to pray for fertility and an abundant harvest. Another meaning of the use of bubur sumsum is a form of respect for nature and the environment. This is related to plants in giving life to mankind. Almost all of mankind’s needs come from plants. Starting from food, and clothing to shelter, so that with the preservation of nature and plants, is expected to reduce the impact of global warming.
In general, the purpose of the Tumpek Pengatag celebration is not only to commemorate the upcoming Galungan. However, as it is often associated with Environment Day for Balinese Hindus, it also contains the spirit of environmental preservation. Another view often links the implementation of Tumpek Pengatag with the Earth Day Commemoration, as it relates to the meaning of the ceremony which is related to the preservation of the earth from damage and pollution.
Tumpek Pengatag promotes respect for nature and the environment, as well as sustainability in natural resource management. Through the rituals and ceremonies performed on Tumpek Pengatag, Balinese people are taught to care for the land, maintain the balance of the ecosystem, and appreciate the important role of nature in supporting their lives. Thus, this celebration plays a role in building awareness of the importance of sustainable agricultural practices to maintain environmental balance and the availability of natural resources for future generations.
More than just a traditional celebration, Tumpek Pengatag is also a platform to spread the understanding of the importance of maintaining the balance of the environment and natural resources. By incorporating local wisdom values in agricultural practices, Balinese people can apply sustainable methods and reduce negative impacts on the environment. Thus, Tumpek Pengatag plays a significant role in building awareness of the importance of sustainable agricultural practices for the welfare of the community and environmental preservation for future generations.
Tumpek Pengatag can be seen as the implementation of Tri Hita Karana values in the daily life of Balinese people. The Tumpek Pengatag ceremony can be explained as a concrete form of the harmonious relationship between humans and God in the lives of Balinese people. According to Suarmika & Syarifah in an article entitled “Ethnopedagogical study: Educational values depicted in Tumpek Wariga” published in KnE Social Sciences in 2019 revealed that Tumpek Bubuh or Wariga also called Tumpek Pengatag teaches human beings to always respect the environment, others and themselves and have faith in God Almighty.
Through the honoring of plants or vegetation, the community expresses gratitude to God, reflecting an awareness of the spiritual role and blessings given by God in daily life. Thus, Tumpek Pengatag strengthens the spiritual bond between man and God in the context of Tri Hita Karana. Hindus express gratitude to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in manifestation as Bhatara Sangkara, that he has created plants and asked that the plants multiply well and be useful for humans. At the same time, it also requests that the plants bear good fruit and many so that they can be used as a means of offering ceremonies on Galungan Day.
In the context of human relations, Tumpek Pengatag means reminding human beings to work together and cooperate in protecting plants to maintain food availability and oxygen availability for life. This reflects the Tri Hita Karana aspect that emphasises the importance of harmony and balance in human relationships. By celebrating Tumpek Pengatag, Balinese people are reminded to respect, help, and maintain harmony in their interactions with others. Human beings are reminded to unite in preserving nature by taking care of the plants in their neighbourhood.
Viewed from the context of the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, through Tumpek Pengatag, Balinese Hindus are invited to reflect on and appreciate the role and contribution of nature in their daily lives. This point is in line with the Tri Hita Karana principle, which underlines the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance and environmental sustainability. This means that Tumpek Wariga is not just a celebration, but also a means of introspection and real action in building a harmonious life between humans and nature. The implementation of Tumpek Pengatag not only strengthens the spiritual connection between humans and nature but also helps in the preservation of Balinese culture and tradition amidst the current modernization and globalization.
Ni Wayan Karmina and friends in an article entitled “Tumpek Uduh Ceremony as an education medium in the preservation of natural environment in Bali: A case study in Canggu Village, North Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia” published in The Asian International Journal of Life Sciences in 2019 states that Tumpek Uduh or Pengatag has implications for the growth of attitudes and behavioral adaptability to nature, the growth of behavior to protect the environment and the growth of environmental conservation behavior. Narotama and friends in an article entitled “Tumpek Wariga As An Ecology Based Local Genius In Supporting Sustainable Tourism (Case Study Of Plaga Village, Badung, Bali)” published in the International Journal of Applied Sciences in Tourism and Events in 2017 stated that Tumpek Wariga is one of the local wisdom of the Balinese people, especially to maintain harmony with all creatures, nature, and the environment, both in the form of cultural activities and Hindu religious rituals. These activities are summarised in the noble philosophy of Bali which is recognised by UNESCO, namely Tri Hita Karana. (***)
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