Transformation of The Meaning of Njalang Tradition: From A Personal Ritual To A Medium of Preservation And Cultural Tourism Among The Nasal Clan In Bengkulu

Abstract

The changing meaning of the Njalang tradition within the Nasal clan community in Kaur Regency, Bengkulu, demonstrates significant social and cultural dynamics. Originally, the Njalang tradition was a personal pilgrimage activity limited to specific times such as Eid al-Fitr. However, it has now transformed into a structured and organized mass pilgrimage event. This study aims to understand the process of this change and the meanings now associated with the Njalang tradition. Using an ethnographic communication approach, the research focuses on the interactions and collaborations that occur among individuals in the context of the Njalang tradition. The researcher was directly involved with the study subjects to observe and interpret the meaning of this traditional transformation. The research question raised is how communication processes and actions occur during the implementation of the Njalang mass pilgrimage in the Nasal community, Kaur Regency. The findings of this study reveal that the Njalang mass pilgrimage tradition now holds various meanings that have evolved over time, including as a spiritual medium, a means of fostering social ties, and in the current context, as a tool for cultural preservation and cultural tourism. The implementation process of the Njalang pilgrimage involves a series of activities starting from pre-implementation meetings, announcements, social services, and the main event on the second day of Eid al-Fitr in the month of Shawwal. This transformation reflects the dynamic cultural adaptation within the Nasal community and highlights how local traditions can serve as complex and multifaceted cultural communication tools.

Keywords

• njalang tradition
• cultural transformation
• cultural tourism
• spiritual medium
• mass pilgrimage