Art and Culture

LOMPLAI

Thanks Jesus, that this day Saturday May 25th 2013 I am allowed to share my experience again ... since long time and almost 1 year I study in Mulawarman University.

Last April 20th-24th 2013 the Youth, Sport, and Tourism Official of East Kutai, my Mom, and I went to Nehas Liah Bing Village, Muara Wahau, East Kutai. Around 6 hours we needed to reach that place from Sangatta.

Lomplai, that's one of my dreams, which I really want to be realized. Thanks God, because it could be realized.

LOMPLAI it's included 2 words, LOM that means celebration and PLAI means rice. So, LOMPLAI is rice harvesting celebration. The other region/place in East Kalimantan, that celebration called Erau and every place has different title.

First, I arrived in Mr. Ledjie Taq (the Chieftain of Dayak Wehea in Nehas Liah Bing Village)'s house and that night around 2,5 hours I interviewed him until night late (11 p.m.). I was really happy to get this chance and I asked him many kinds of question, from the history of Nehas Liah Bing Village, about the lives of the people, the art and culture, till the changes in modern time.

When I interviewed Mr. Ledjie Taq

That was Saturday night when I interviewed Mr. Ledjie Taq.
Next, Sunday! Actually, I really want to enter the church (GKII) in Nehas Liah Bing Village, but there was misscommunication, so I didn't go :( Sunday Morning I travelled around the village till night i just spent my time in the house.

Next, Monday ... the people started to be busy with their jobs to prepare the celebration. They made a cottage called "Pesyai" and dominantly the man did that. 

The people in the cottage along the river to see the traditional competition.

And, Mr. Ledji Taq in "downriver" of Custom Hall (Wet Min) did Ngesea Egung or striking the Gong. It's happened in 2 places together. In upriver or Dug Min (the Youth striking the Gong) and downriver (Wet Min).

A Long Bamboo with A cloth, the brown house is the Custom Hall Of downriver, and the cottage which is called Pesyai.

After that, the people started to decorate their house with a bamboo and a cloth.

Tuesday1 I was full of spirit to welcome that day. because that's was the top of the celebration. Early morning, I prepared my self and used traditional custom :) and with 11 woman, we made like a guard and walked around the village, went to the upriver-downriver-upriver again-downriver again and finished. we brought a bamboo or a thin wood when we walked and throw thema away in the end. around 2 hours we did that, from 11 a.m to 1 a.m ... oh my God so hot :( and my fault, i didn't use sunblock or another cream to protect my body. but, more than that, I feel proud to nail that ! We did it !

The woman and I ^_^

When we walked around the village (Embob Jengea)  ... oh that was flood too~

When the woman walked, nothing, nobody was allowed to across our row. And, to redirect the people for not disturbing our ritual, so in the river the man did the competion called Sek Siang (bamboo attacking on the boat that is about 25 m long) and Lomba Dayung on the same boat (woman and man category).

After that, the people cascaded each other, and gave charcoal on your body.

Prepare yourself to receive the water

Charcoal and water 

From the right side (Kak Septi, Uwe - Mrs. Ledjie Taq, Kak Diana, Kak Eka, Kak Christina, and Me)
*Kak Eka & Christina are researching the lives in Wehea Protected Forest

I was touched with charcoal too 

In the afternoon, we entered the Pemuda (Soccer Field) in the center of the Village :)

there were Hudoq dance, ritual that was did by the chieftain and his wife, and the other.

Hudoq Dance

The tools that supported the ritual

The chieftain, and the preparation

The preparation of the ritual

Dance together

Dance together

Dance together

People who watched the ritual from the outside of the field

Center Hall - in front of the Pemuda field

The People in the Tribune (in front of the field)

Me (red) and my mom :* (orange)

Me, Mrs. Ledjie taq (Uwe) and Mr. Ledjie Tag (Ame) :)

we eat Lemang! rice in bamboo 

:D

Until night, because of rain ... so from the field, we moved to the center hall and continue to dance together.

very tired when I went back to home hihihii

**sleep***

next day, Wednesday that's time to go back to Sangatta :(

I will miss all of the people there ... Uwe & Ame, Anita, Kak Yun, from TNC (The Nature Conservancy) and all ...
If God permits, I will be there again. to visit Wehea Protected Forest (around 89 km & 3 hours needed) yeahh !!! ^_^

that was AWESOME experience. before we go home, let's take a picture together .. start!

Pose together before we go back

Praise the Lord. Bless this village.
Bye! See you again :)

Full of gratefulness,

PINGKAN O. PODUNG