The Symbolic Meaning of Semah Laut From Sea Tribe Panglong Communities in Bintan, Riau Islands

Abstract

The semah laut ritual is a tradition of the Panglong Bintan Sea Tribe in Riau Islands, often perfomed en masse but sometimes by traditional leaders. The Sea Tribe views the universe as a medium that supports their lives. The ritual involves various symbolic offerings, such as yellow pulut which is the main symbol and is an offering to Jerambang (the highest Sea God), eggs for the sea coast guard god, sirih pinang and sirih bakik (betel nut various item) as requests for safety, green beans and cigarettes are offerings for the Sea God to be eaten by the seven Sea Gods, and banana leaves as the base for these offerings. The research aims to understand the meanings behind these symbols using a descriptive qualitative method and a symbolic interactionism perspective. Findings show that Semah Laut is a belief system that connects the sacred (transcendent) with natural sustainability, reflecting a symbiotic relationship between nature and the divine. This ritual upholds moral values and local wisdom, blending spiritual beliefs with environmental preservation.