Materials
agricultural ritual
ICH Materials 12
Photos
(5)-
Sau batar / Celesipile (Corn Harvest)
The livelihoods of Timorese people are agriculture. Corn Harvest is a Timorese harvest ceremony practiced by farmers in various regions in the country. People in Timor-Leste are grateful for what they collect by the hard work sacrificed especially for their plantation in their farm. The corn harvest ceremony is a traditional thanksgiving ceremony to offer the best and first harvest to Lord and to other divines who believe that protects the plantations from the pest and other degradative agents.
Timor -
Sau batar / Celesipile (Corn Harvest)
The livelihoods of Timorese people are agriculture. Corn Harvest is a Timorese harvest ceremony practiced by farmers in various regions in the country. People in Timor-Leste are grateful for what they collect by the hard work sacrificed especially for their plantation in their farm. The corn harvest ceremony is a traditional thanksgiving ceremony to offer the best and first harvest to Lord and to other divines who believe that protects the plantations from the pest and other degradative agents.
Timor -
Asham: Maize Cultivation
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock and over centuries, rise in agricultural has contributed in the growth civilization. Early people have developed and improved varieties of plants and till date the practice is considered to be the important aspect of Bhutanese livelihood. It is one of the sources of income as over69% of the population here, directly depends on it for their livelihood (MoAF, 2011). In 2011, agriculture sector accounted for about 17.7% of the total GDP of the country (RNR Statistics, 2012)\n\nAsham (Maize) plays a critical role in the entire life of given economy and is a pre-dominant cereal crop for the eastern part of the Bhutan for many years contributing to more than half of total maize production in the country. Asham cultivation was one of the main cereal as well as cash crops that supported and supports lively hood for major households in the part of the country.\n\nTo these days, the practice and culture of maize cultivation is one of the main live hood and sources of income. Most communities in the eastern part of the country depend on cultivation of Asham to produce following products:\n•\tKharang- grits, grind maize used as staple food\n•\tAsham me-gogni- roasted corn\n•\tAsham bokpi- corn flour\n•\tTengma- roasted and pounded maize\n•\tAsham mu-nang- a local term for popcorn\n•\tZhu- brewed alcohol \nApart from above products, asham is also used as cereals for bartering during the olden days to exchange with wooden and bamboo products produced from other parts of the Dzongkhags. Moreover people also used to exchange with rice, chili, meat and dairy products within or outside the community. People used to offer asham, kharang and bokpi to monks and gomchen(great meditation masters) as they visit begging for cash and kind. Asham and its product were also used during the religious rituals at households. Crafting of Torma (Sacrificial ritual cakes) and Sur (Smoke offering) during the rituals were done by using corn flour.\n\nThere has been lots of transformation in the culture, practice and process in cultivation maize in the region due to introduction of hybrid seeds, improve in tools and technologies used compared to old and traditional ways of cultivation.
Bhutan -
Tug-of-war games
Tugging rituals and games of Vietnam have different characteristics, meanings and rules. The element is held as part of village festivals in Spring, a form for communities to pray for abundant harvests and prosperity, marking the start of a new agricultural cycle. Tugging game symbolizes the power of natural forces like the sun, water source that influence the harvests. In some localities, tugging game is associated with the legends of worshiped heroes for their merit in reclaiming the land, fighting against foreign invaders, protecting prosperous life of the people. It is usually held at the communal houses or temples after the rirual of commemoration of local guardian deities finished. The material used for tugging varies from region to region, reflecting the ecological and cultural context of each community, it can be made of bamboo, rattan stems, or ropes. The procedure for selecting teams or players is in accordance to the ritual rules, and the winning or losing team is regulated by customs to express certain religious meanings and the harmony of nature. Nowadays, tugging rituals and games are popularly known as a folk game that is entertaining, sporty and collective.
Uzbekistan -
Sewang
Sewang is believed to have been in existence for more than 100 years. It is a ritual of the indigenous groups of Peninsular Malaysia to cure sickness. At times,nit is also performed to appease the ancestors’ spirits when establishing a new agricultural area. However, Sewang has been adapted as a performance for tourists these days.\nSewang has the combination of dance movements, songs and music. Dancers will carry two bundles of kuang leaves, some serbok leaves and wildflowers, will move gradually and form a big circle. They often dance and sing at the same time.\nA solo singer will stand at the centre of the circle and lead the rituals. Sewang is accompanied by musicians playing the bamboo and wood-made instrument— centong.
Malaysia