Maulid Adat Bayan is a tradition of celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday carried out by the Bayan indigenous community in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, by combining elements of Islamic religion and local customs. This tradition is not only a commemoration of the Prophet’s birthday, but also a form of respect for ancestors and preservation of local culture. This is influenced by the uniqueness of the customary mulud ritual which may be very rare or even not found in other areas.

Unlike the general celebration of the Prophet’s Birthday, the nuances of traditional rituals are still held firmly by the Bayan community. Bayan Customary Birthday is a unique tradition that combines elements of Islam and local customs. With various sacred traditional ceremonial processions, the Bayan community not only shows their love and respect for the Prophet Muhammad SAW, but they also maintain and preserve the traditions inherited from their ancestors.

History of Maulid Adat Bayan

Quoted from detik.com, the tradition of Maulid Nabi according to Bayan custom lasts for two days. The first day is the preparation of food ingredients and other ceremonial equipment called “kayu aiq”, while the second day is a prayer and eating together centered in the ancient Bayan mosque. The implementers of the ‘Mulud Adat Bayan” procession consist of residents of Loloan Village, Anyar Village, Sukadana Village, Senaru Village, Karang Bajo Village and Bayan Village, all of which are part of a customary territory called the Bayan Indigenous Community.

The mulud adat tradition is closely related to the history of the arrival of Islam which then merged with local wisdom. Before the arrival of Islam, the Bayan community adhered to animism and the Sasak Bodha belief.

This belief is very much attached to the social conditions of the local community. The arrival of Islam in the land of Bayan made old beliefs directly confront Islamic law.

Instead of eliminating old elements, Islam actually accommodates local culture into a message in spreading Islam. This is what can give birth to the mulud adat tradition as a form of commemorating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAW by implementing the tradition using the customs of the Bayan community.

How is the Bayan Customary Maulid Series

Quoted from tourism in Lombok, this activity is carried out with a full agenda. Since the morning, the Bayan Indigenous People flock to “Kampu” which is the original village or area first inhabited by the Sasak Islamic Bayan tribe, they hand over some of their sources of income from agricultural products such as rice, sticky rice, coconut, vegetables, fruits, and livestock along with “batun dupa” (money) and state their vows to “Inan Menik” which is a woman who receives agricultural products from residents. Later, these agricultural products will be processed into dishes (servings) to be presented to the clerics and traditional figures of the Sasak Bayan the next day on the second day of the Customary Maulid, this is a form of gratitude from residents for their income, then “Inan Menik” gives a mark on the forehead of the indigenous people with “mamaq” from betel as a ritual marking indigenous children called “Menyembeq”.

Furthermore, the Bayan Indigenous People work together to clean a place called Balen Unggun (place for husks/bran), Balen Tempan (place for rice pounding tools), cleaning Rantok (place for pounding rice), cleaning the place for Gendang Gerantung, then some of the indigenous community groups pick up the Gendang Gerantung gamelan, upon the arrival of the Gendang Gerantung at the place that has been provided, a ritual welcoming and handover ceremony is held with the arrangement of Lekes Buaq (betel and areca nut), then the ritual event “Taikan Mulud” (Custom Mulud Series begins). Estimated time for ‘gugur kembang waru’ (around 15.30 local time) The women start “Menutu Pare” (pounding rice) together rhythmically using Tempan made of long bamboo in a place for pounding rice that is shaped like a boat mortar called “Menutu” (pounding). At the same time accompanied by the Gendang Gerantung gamelan typical of Bayan Village, some of the men look for spotted bamboo to be used as pennants that will be displayed in every corner of the ancient Bayan mosque, this event is called “tunggul” which is led by a priest called “Melokaq Penguban” after receiving blessings by giving lekoq buaq (betel and areca nut) by “Inan Menik”, this lekoq buaq is used as a medium for tabiq (permission) to the bamboo tree that will be cut down.

The evening coincides with the full moon where the stumps (pennants) have been installed in every corner of the ancient mosque, the leaders of Custom and Religion begin “Ngengelat” which is to decorate the interior of the ancient mosque with symbols full of meaning, and after that when the gamelan players have entered the courtyard of the ancient Bayan Mosque, it is a sign that the event of a fight between two male residents using rattan (Temetian) as a beating tool and a shield as a protector made of cowhide, will soon begin, the game which is usually called “Presean” is usually played by the “Pepadu” or people who are reliable in this game, but at this Mulud Adat event anyone who wants to are welcome, or residents who vow that when Mulud Adat he will fight. The game held right in front of the Bayan Ancient Mosque, is not based on revenge and feeling like a champion but part of the ritual and entertainment and if one of the players is injured, or withdraws both must apologize by shaking hands after the game. This is a tradition of ritual and entertainment Mulud Adat which has been carried out for centuries by the Bayan Indigenous Community.

After the “Temetian” or “Presean” event, the traditional leaders, religious leaders and other community figures and open to anyone who wants to participate gather at the “Berugaq Agung” to share stories freely and discuss and discourse about everything.

On the second day, 15 Rabi’ul Awal, the traditional women began their activities by “menampiq beras” which is cleaning rice that has been “Tutu” or “Rantok” which was continued with the “Misoq Beras” (washing rice) event with a long procession of traditional women neatly lined up with baskets of rice on their heads towards a spring called Lokoq Masan Segah which is specifically for washing rice when the ritual is carried out. The distance of this spring is about 400 meters from the ‘Kampu”. The prerequisite for these rice washers is that women are in a state of purity (not menstruating), along the way they must abstain from talking, must not look back and cut in line. After the rice is washed and then cooked into rice, it is time for “Mengageq” which is to arrange the dishes on a place that is made and designed in such a way that is called “Ancaq”

In the afternoon, “Praja Mulud” or the young people of the Customary who have been dressed up like two pairs of brides and grooms are led together from the house of “Pembekel Beleq Bat Orong” (Customary Leader from West Bayan) to the Ancient Mosque carrying offerings in the form of dishes such as rice and side dishes. “Praja Mulud” depicts the process of the marriage of heaven and earth, Adam and Eve, which is symbolized by the bride and groom carried out by the traditional leaders of Bayan.

Upon arrival at the mosque, one of the religious leaders leads a prayer. After the prayer, the event continues with a meal together which followed by the congregation or indigenous people who came later to eat the dishes that had been provided. This is a form of gratitude from the Sasak Bayan indigenous people to the ulama and is also the peak of the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W which is celebrated according to Bayan customs.

This tradition then became one of the most sacred and most awaited traditions by the people of Lombok. So, if you go to Lombok, try to choose a time during the Maulid Muhammad SAW so you can see this ritual.