The sacralization of food in javanese islamic rituals: A study of Abdul Qadiran in Mlangi

Abstract

Mlangi has many religious rituals that are still continuously carried out to this day. However, each tradition has a variety of goals and procedures for its implementation. The Abdul Qadiran tradition is a tradition in itself for the community as a form of prayer and hope for the fulfillment of big wishes. This research is qualitative. The method used is a field study with ethnographic techniques that aim to understand and observe in more detail the process of forming food sacralization in the Abdul Qadiran tradition in Mlangi Hamlet. Primary data sources were obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation. While secondary data sources were obtained from academic literature that is still related to the object of research. The subjects of this study are divided into three main actors, namely cultural figures, the organizing committee, and the community who are part of the Abdul Qadiran congregation. The purpose of this study is to reveal the symbolic meaning of food sacralization in the Islamic-Javanese ritual tradition preserved by the Mlangi Hamlet community. The results of the study show that each obligatory food served in Abdul Qadiran has its own philosophy and meaning. The obligatory foods that must be present are sego abang, sego putih, ingkung, and seven kinds of eggs. Meanwhile, the social meaning obtained from the Abdul Qadiran tradition in Mlangi is as a form of respect for guests, the formation of collective moral values, and the maintenance of social structures.