Resisting a Disease Outbreak by Giving

Name: Resisting a Disease Outbreak by Giving
Uploaded: 2020-10-21T05:16:36Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: The tradition of tawurji, the efforts of batik craftsmen to survive, and the willingness of hoteliers show that Sunan Gunung Jati\'s message will not last despite the outbreak.

The tradition of tawurji, the efforts of batik craftsmen to survive, and the willingness of hoteliers show that Sunan Gunung Jati\'s message will not last despite the outbreak.

· 6 minutes read

Resisting a disaster by giving: Cring... cring… cring. Coins were scattered on the ground of Kedaton, Kanoman Palace, Cirebon city, West Java, Wednesday (14/10/2020). The clinking sound of the falling coins was followed by cheers from dozens of servants who picked up the coins. Despite wearing the masks, the screams did not decrease.

Even though some of the servants fell down, they were still cheerful and laughing. No anger.

"Alhamdulillah, I got Rp 20,000," said Iin Karmila, 55, one of the palace servants, showing off a pile of coins with the denomination of Rp 500 and Rp 1,000. She was panting behind her batik mask with a megamendung motif.

This is a blessing. I keep part of my tawurji money in a drawer. Later, I will give, if there is a family member who asks

The process was over. Iin and the servants, who were generally old, were busy chanting tawurji poetry. "Tawurji, tawurji, tawur Tuan Aji, semoga dawa umur (wishing the haj long life)". That means, tawurji, tawurji, please give the coins, we wish Mr. Haj long life. The royal family then threw the coins to the front and the servants fought over again.

This was the situation of the tawurji tradition in the Kanoman Palace. Tawurji consists of two words, namely tawur and aji. Tawur refers to the throwing of the coins and the like, while aji refers to the haj or wealthy persons.

Even though it deals only with coins, the essence of this tradition is giving alms, namely the haves give those who are less fortunate. "This is a blessing. I keep part of my tawurji money in a drawer. Later, I will give, if there is a family member who asks. I still hold a part of last year\'s money,” said Iin who is familiarly called Nyak.

Also read: The Parade of Typical Cirebon Costumes

The money gave confidence to Nyak when she stopped conducting sale activities in the Kanoman Palace area due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The income of around Rp 50,000 per day was lost. In fact, usually, before Prophet Muhammad\'s birthday, thousands of people visited the palace. There was a circulation of money.

"During the tawurji now I get more coins because there weren\'t many people," said Nyak smiling. The palace limits the implementation of tradition only in the palace environment. At least, this mother of three children and one grandchild can still be grateful, including enjoying free meals from the palace.

According to the Kanoman Palace spokesperson, Ratu Raja Arimbi Nurtina, tawurji is the form of alms from the royal family to the community. However, due to the pandemic, the tradition was held only for the palace servants. No special number of coins was distributed. However, all coins were given prayer in advance by Sultan Kanoman XII Cirebon Raja Muhammad Emirudin.

Also read: ‘Ngaruwat Bumi’ in Banceuy Kampong

"Alms can indeed be done at any time. However, according to tradition, tawurji is carried out on the last Wednesday of Safar in order to avoid any disaster. Ngapem is also so," she said.

Ngapem is none other than the tradition of making and distributing apem, bowl-shaped thin pancakes made from fermented rice flour, for residents around the palace. "A white apem symbolizes holy behavior. The way to make it is by doing dhikr prayer, not saying dirty things,” she said.

Inheritance

According to Arimbi, the heritage tradition of Sunan Gunung Jati is not only a matter of alms or sharing, but the empowerment of the people. Sunan Gunung Jati also placed Cirebon as the center of Islamic civilization with characteristics, such as batik, glass painting, and dance. These skills are what support residents until now.

Tawurji, for example, started when followers of Syekh Lemahabang or Syekh Siti Jenar were considered heretical because they worshiped humans more than God. Their life was miserable.

Instead of punishing, Sunan Gunung Jati even provided protection, such as shelter and provisions. They were empowered and guided. This tradition became known as tawurji.

Also read: Wisdom of Keeping Arts Alive in the Valley of Five Mountains

For Arimbi, tawurji that created a crowd was no longer relevant in the midst of the pandemic. "However, this tradition is still needed to teach anyone to share in order to reject a disaster," she said.

Moreover, now Covid-19 is rampant and 70 patients have died in Cirebon city and regency. The economy is in limbo. Small and large entrepreneurs have been affected.

This tradition is still needed to teach anyone to share in order to reject a disaster

Iman, 63, a craftsman and owner of Batik Iman Dalem, for example, gave his 18 employees off from April to May. Apart from worrying about the craftsmen being exposed to Covid-19, there are almost no orders for batik.

Faith continues to think, one of which is to enable the craftsmen to still be able to eat. He, who has been making batik since the age of 15, took the time to make eight new motifs. In fact, in a year, he previously produced a maximum of only five motifs.

Also read: Kriyan Batik, from Cocoon to Butterfly

The new motifs, such as dragon, squirrel, and bamboo, are expected to attract customers. Dozens of craftsmen have returned to make batik. Within a month, he could send 10 pieces of batik to a number of regions. "This is enough for the employee\'s salary and my food needs. There has not been any profit yet,” he said.

He remembered the village elder\'s message that Ki Gede Trusmi, an Islamic preacher, taught residents to make batik not for the sake of piling up wealth. "In the past, batik strengthened brotherhood. Batik was a gift or a token of gratitude, not for sale and purchase,” he said.

Isolation hotels

That is why, even during the difficult situation to face the outbreak, giving to each other is far better than reaping the profits. The owners of Ono\'s Hotel and Langensari Hotel in Cirebon city at least try to implement the same thing.

The two hotels in the city center have been transformed into self-isolation places for Covid-19 patients with mild and no symptoms. The Cirebon City Government rents the hotels until the end of the year. Ono\'s Hotel prepares 104 beds. Hotel Langensari has 46 beds.

"We were initially worried when we were asked to become a hotel for Covid-19 patients. Guests are feared to be afraid. However, we think it\'s not enough to just make a profit. We also want to help mitigate Covid-19," said Ono\'s Cirebon Hotel Operations Manager Ibrahim Arsyad, 50.

He also asked a number of guests to find other places to stay because as of Thursday (15/10), his hotel began to be used as an isolation place. This decision is a dilemma because hotel occupancy rate starts to increase to 60-70 percent.

Ibrahim did not deny that hotel turnover could decline. Not only the guests, the employees also express worry. "One or two employees asked to be laid off. I\'m scared too. However, we have been told how to prevent Covid-19," he said.

We were initially worried when we were asked to become a hotel for Covid-19 patients.

Cirebon Mayor Nashrudin Azis appreciated the role of entrepreneurs in mitigating the pandemic. "The government guarantees that after the pandemic, the reputation of hotels will not decline. We will stay there overnight," he promised.

The tradition of tawurji, the efforts of batik craftsmen to survive, and the willingness of hoteliers show that Sunan Gunung Jati\'s message will not last despite the outbreak. The formula for refusing any disaster is to give, not to take for one\'s own interest.

Editor:

Syahnan Rangkuti

islamic civilization tawurji ngapem tawurji tradition heritage tradition of Sunan Gunung Jati