Together with Dewi Sri, Safeguarding the Earth

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Small children and teenagers dance in the Dewi Sri Ballet performed in Wlahar Wetan village, Banyumas, Central Java, Sunday (19/8/2018). Dewi Sri is known as the goddess of prosperity and fertility.

The hard work of farmers to cultivate rice fields and produce rice to feed people is not trivial. There is a cultural value and depth of philosophy of life, which supports the sustainability of the earth and humans.

About 60 children danced to gamelan music on a field in Wlahar Wetan village, Banyumas, Central Java. The figure of a goddess wearing a yellow veil became the center of attention: she was Dewi Sri, a symbol of fertility for the Javanese people in general, farmers in particular. The dance performance, which was held in conjunction with the commemoration of the 73^rd independence of the Republic of Indonesia, became a moment to take care of tradition while protecting the earth.

Despite the intense heat, thousands of people enthusiastically watched. They sat on the ground in the middle of the dry season. Eighteen straw-roofed bamboo huts built in 18 neighborhood units (RT) served as the backdrop for the rice fields. Inside the huts various snacks made of cassava and traditional herbal medicines were served. Dozens of scarecrows commonly used by farmers to drive birds away were displayed to highlight the atmosphere.

The dance performance, entitled The Story of Rice, Dewi Sri, the Symbol of Fertility and Prosperity and Respect for Nature, reminded all those present how valuable and precious rice is. During childhood, when children do not eat all of it, their parents always tell them to finish it all otherwise the rice will cry or a pet will die. This shows how valuable the food is to the villagers.

The dance performance started with the throne of Dewi Sri on a stage, which emulated heaven. Under the stage, which was an illustration of earth, lived a farmer who worked very hard to plant and harvest cassava. It was said that there were no rice plants in Java. Farmers only grew cassava. Rice was only available and eaten in heaven, a beautiful place of gods and goddesses.

On one occasion, Dewi Sri invited the peasant to rise to heaven to see an expanse of rice fields. The farmer was fascinated by the paddies and rice. He also wanted to stay longer in heaven, learning how to grow rice.

After being allowed to stay in heaven by Dewi Sri, the farmer learned a number of processes to plant rice. Before planting, Dewi Sri taught him how to plow and fertilize the soil with a tool called a luku. Next, before planting, the soil was leveled with a tool called a garu. To cultivate the fertile land, the farmer was trained how to irrigate it, before planting the seeds, and harvest them when the rice turned yellow.

Dewi Sri also taught the farmer how to use a tool called ani-ani to cut and harvest the rice. She even taught him how to use the lesung (a tradition tool to manually hull the rice).

Next, the farmer asked for permission to return to earth. However, without the goddess\'s knowledge, he brought with him a bundle of rice seeds. On earth, the farmer sowed the seeds and taught his neighbors how to plant it. Java Island then turned yellow when rice was ready to be harvested.

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Small children and teenagers dance in the Dewi Sri Ballet performed in Wlahar Wetan village, Banyumas, Central Java, Sunday (19/8/2018).

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Dewi Sri was shocked and angry because the farmer did not ask her permission. She rushed down to earth to meet with the peasant, and was angry that her trust was betrayed. The farmer begged forgiveness and said that his efforts were for the sake of the people. Because of her sympathy, the goddess gave him mercy. However, she proposed a number of requirements that had to be met.

These requirements included, among others, when planting rice, farmers should irrigate the land, remove wild plants around the rice fields, maintain soil fertility, harvest the rice carefully using ani-ani, and prohibiting the throwing away of rice. Moreover, the farmer also had to allow birds to enjoy the rice seeds as a form of sharing with fellow living beings. "It is not permissible to kill birds that eat rice seeds," said Dewi Sri.

United with nature

The secretary of the Farmers Welfare Movement (PKK) in Wlahar Wetan village, Sri Suwarti, said the essence of the message conveyed by Dewi Sri was that farmers should treat rice like their own biological children and follow natural rhythms. By living in harmony with nature, planting rice lovingly, according to the season, is part of memayu hayuning bawono (guarding the universe). "If the earth\'s population breaks its promises, Dewi Sri will send a disaster," Suwarti said.

Wlahar Wetan village has a population of 3,500. As many as 80 percent are farmers. The village sits on 365 hectares, with 120 ha being rain-fed rice fields. Although the village is located on the banks of the Serayu River, the residents are forced to rely on rainwater because the rice fields are 15 meters above the river’s water level.

"Here there is only one reservoir measuring 20 m by 15 m with a depth of 3 m. However, it is only able to irrigate 3 ha of rice fields," said village head Dodiet Prasetyo.

Dodiet added that to overcome the problem of irrigation, villagers were trying to pump water from the river by using renewable technologies that were environmentally friendly. Moreover, in order to maintain soil fertility, the farmers also delved into organic farming.

In the last two years, 14 ha have been converted into organic rice fields. "We carry out organic farming in the spirit of Sri, which stands for patience, compassion, sincerity," he said.

In order to support organic farming, Dodiet said, the farmers also gathered in groups and developed agriculture, which was also integrated with livestock. Communal barns were built in the village to accommodate five cows, 100 sheep, 1,000 chickens and 1,000 ducks. Twenty percent of the village funds, which total Rp 800 million per year, are allocated for agricultural development.

Over the past three years, farmers have also been invited to do comparative studies at agricultural centers, such as Indramayu and Majalengka in West Java and Ngawi in East Java.

"We want to be independent and create food sovereignty in the village so that it does not depend on outside products," Dodiet said.

In line with Dewi Sri\'s image as a symbol of fertility and prosperity, the residents of Wlahar Wetan village will continue to improve themselves to protect the earth and develop healthy agricultural concepts.

In line with the lively movements of the little dancers, so do the movements of the village continue to develop dynamically. Local people try to survive the challenges of the times while taking care of tradition and memory, and how important it is to combine synergy with nature.