"as they strongly believe that Sunda Wiwitan be the one and only belief that they embrace"
Written by Benedectine Dicha
Photo and Translated by Randi Eka Sanjaya
The atmosphere in that morning seems will brighten us all day long, the stretch of the blue sky together with cloud ornament seems to beautify the scene. A gust of breezy wind seems to touch our bones. There is a lot of dwelling that surrounded by the nature seems to welcoming and refreshing our eyes from far away. We came to traditional village named Cireundeu, which is a small nor beautiful village that located in sub-district of South Cimahi, Cimahi City, West Java. This village is placed in between of Mt. Kunci, Mt. Cimenteng, and Mt. Gajahlangu.
Cireundeu traditional village is a place that full of people who respect and get a grip on Sunda Wiwitan believe, its reflected in their effort to maintain their culture and mores for many generations. It’s been said that the existence of Cireundeu traditional village are the beginning of Sunda Wiwitan.
Wiwitan interpreted as the first place for the first human. The emergence of Sunda Wiwitan Believe is started because at a time, there is no religion that being recognized in Indonesia like Islam, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddha, and Konghucu. Sunda Wiwitan believer says Miniti, as they strongly believe that Sunda Wiwitan be the one and only belief that they embrace. Abah Emen, elder from Cireundeu Traditional Village says “Living in peace, respect, and side by side with another belief has indicating their intention to keeping and carrying out the heritage from their ancestors”.
Kind smile nor happiness become greetingsfor the people of Cireundeu to welcome anyone. The attitude of Cireundeupeople are caring for each living being and helping them to establish family atmosphere that is filled by peace and tolerance. Keep their effort to bring peace with another belief become heritage from generation to generation by their ancestor that we can witness today in their way of life.
Besides the love for each living being, they also deep in love with nature which gave them energy and life. This principle is being manifested as they are also appreciating the heritage from the elder and ancestor of Sunda Wiwitan. It has become the form of value thought in Sunda Wiwitan Belief.
As far as eyes can see, It’s all appear in nature richness reflected in green ambience which vastly unfolds. This richness is being used by its people for surviving. Nature can become energy and give life for them. It’s been reflected as they put cassava rice for their need to replace ordinary rice. This approach is maintained so they don’t have to rely on government in that sector. The color of the rice is white, but seems to be a little brown. The taste is vapid like ordinary rice and also grainy in texture, but it surely to make ourself filled.
“Sunda Wiwitan is about how we willing to open ourself (in the advancement of era) using feeling language”. People is complete. It has feeling and capable of utilize them, so as we are people and also complete being, we have to appreciate our motherland” says Kang Going with passionate spirit while gulping coffee and smoking cigarettes. For them, nature is the same as their mother. But today, our nature has exposed to the greediness of investors. Moreover, there is a near residence that took place above the water springs of Cireundeu Village which has become their life source. It seems they’re not satisfied with the previous event with garbage dump being destroyed last year that estimated took a thousand of life. With excuse from government and bringing conflict within Cireundeu people, the contractor could stay calm and keep the construction in place, even it has to be in the area of leuweng larangan (sacred place for Cireundeu people). “in Cireundeu, our field has eroded away with new residences, many people in Cireundeusells their field as they took some advice from locals which has influence, I am concerned” says Kang Jajat, RT chairman (Neighborhood Association) of Cireundeu. He also says that Cireundeu is divided in three section, that is Leuweng Larangan, Leuweng Tutupan, and Leuweng Baladahan. It is all utilize for a place to keeping the water, replant the natural resource after harvesting, and place for farming. In the past, Leuweng Larangan cannot be entered by just any people, but now, there is a few part that can be entered by any people.
In the evening, wind air has entering the opening of glass windows in Bale Saresehan. The coldness has disturbing the warmth of the body. There was a magnificent sound. It appears there is a group of traditional art people who playing Karinding. In majority, it is executed by middle age people with just a few of young adult with their enthusiastic to learn toward traditional art Karinding. The tapering fingers are mandatory for playing the music beautifully. Karinding has made from bamboo is played with mouth and light touch from one finger. When Karinding is face to face with music instrument Celempung Renteng and Celempung Tunggal, it will be transformed into a beautiful harmonization.
Bale Saresehan that has been the place for practicing Karinding is being made from bamboo with glass doors. At that place, it also contained with some Aksara Sunda writings and music instrument in form of Gamelan. In the roof, in each corner, it has been framed by four fabrics with four different colors. Each color has a meaning, the white color is symbolizing water, the yellow color is symbolizing wind, the red color is symbolizing fire, and the black one is symbolizing wind.
The awareness to commit kindness with any life being and sustain the nature has become an identity, worship, and thought value of Sunda Wiwitan. “We have to always remember God, fellow, and our nature” says Abah Widi, middle aged man that also close the conversation.
"Cireundeu Traditional Village, small but beautiful traditional Village for Sunda Wiwitan"
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
Representation of how strong their culture to helping each other. It's taken in the middle of their community services at the weekend.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
The appearance of Leuweng Larangan from Leuweng Tutupan. When Leuweng Tutupan can be visited, its different from Leuweng Larangan which prohibit any visiting in the name of balancing the life.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
Abah Babariah in the middle of his work for making rice from cassava. The process above is stripping the cassava skins.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
Rasi or cassava rice are exist in this village from 100 years ago. The process above is extortion of its aci.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
In evening, children from Cireundeu village are having their time to gather around and playing with friends from the same age.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
The late of night is not limiting a few middle aged to playing Karinding. It's been said that this music instrument reputedly become media communication for its player and surrounding nature.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
This place called Bale Saresehan and also intentionally made by a series of bamboo with philosophy as to bring harmonization between Sunda Wiwitan culture and contemporary era.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
This photo is taken in front of Bale Saresehan, the childs inside this picture symbolize the continuity of Sunda Wiwitan culture in upcoming era.
Photo Work: Cireundeu Village
Created by: Randi Eka Sanjaya
Media: Photo Paper
Size: 20 cm x 30 cm
Years: 2018
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