Cultural resilience study: the role of the temanten mandi ritual in Sendang Modo on the survival of the surrounding community

Abstract

Until now, the cultural values embodied in the traditions of the Javanese people have not been conclusively explained. The purpose of this research is to describe and explain the cultural value of the ritual of bathing rituals in Sendang Modo and its potential as a source of cultural resilience, especially in people’s livelihoods. This study uses an ethnographic approach. The research was conducted for two years in Kandangsapi Village, Jenar District, Sragen Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Retrieval of data using observation and interviews. The data obtained were analyzed using an interactive model. From the research conducted, it was found that the ritual of bathing in Sendang Modo has been carried out since the XVIII century. The community performs the ritual at this spring because spring water is considered efficacious and as the beginning of giving life to the people of Kandangsapi Village. These findings also show that the mandi-temanten tradition has the potential to offer an alternative or adaptive strategy, namely not only as a complement to the tradition but also to generate new opportunities as livelihood security which can ultimately increase economic, social, and even political income. So that the cultural traditions carried out have strengthened the survival of the surrounding community.