Kampung Budha Sodong’s Local Wisdom: The Symbolic Forms of Covid-19 Traditional Ritual, Its Internalization and Comparing to the Villagers’ Educational Backgrounds

Abstract

This research is aimed to describe and explain: (1) the symbolic form meaning of ritual materials held in Kampung Budha Sodong, Ponorogo, East Java, Indonesia; (2) the internalization of its villagers; and (3) the comparison of their act to their educational backgrounds. This research was conducted for 17 months using an ethnographic approach. The research data was taken by interview and observation. In getting data validity, the triangulation is applied. The valid data were then analyzed using an interactive model of qualitative analysis. From the research carried out, it can be explained that the materials used in the Covid-19 Tolak Balak ritual contains the meaning of vertical and horizontal human relationships. The seven kinds of boreh flowers, frankincense/kemenyan, red incense/Dupa, rice ambeng, rice golong and chicken ikung show the relationship between humans and God. Meanwhile, boiled eggs, urab vegetables and plantains contain the meaning of human relations with themselves and with each other. This symbol implies that human in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic must be prepared carefully, must be able to adapt and share benefit to the environment, so it must be fair and wise.