May. 03, 2009
Nyangku Ceremony
"So... when will this washing-sword-thingy be?"
"Well, after Nyepuh and Ngawit, Panjalu's elders will gather 8 more holy waters from other springs. After that..."
After 9 holy waters from the primary springs gathered, they will held "Nyangku" ceremony in "Maulud" month according to islamic calendar.The ceremony is carried out in every year in monday or last Thursday in maulud month. Nyangku comes from arabian word ‘yanko’ mean same with cleaning.
On the ceremony, sword from sayidina ali and all artifacts such as cis,keris,and spears taken out from their saving place in Bumi Alit, the artifacts will be processed to Nusa Gede, accompanied with panjalu's villagers, and then return to village's hall.
At the village's hall the artifacts wrapping will be taked off, prepared to be washed. While the artifacts un-wrapped, the washing group will be standing by with the holy waters on top of the washing-tower.
One by one, the inherited swords washed with lime to wash off the rusts. While washing the swords, the washing group always chant some prayers.
The washing-group sometimes sprays the holy water to the villagers bellow. Which means, the holyness of the water isn't just for some people, but it's for everyone.
Usually, this ceremony ends in midday. After all of the artifacts cleaned, they'll be stored back at Bumi Alit.
If there's any water leftovers, panjalu's villagers usually collect the water in a plastic bottle. Even some tourist collect them too.
