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Lombok Culture
The Sasak live mainly on the island of
Lombok, Indonesia, numbering around 2.6 million (85% of Lombok's
population). They are related to the Balinese in language and race,
although the Sasak are predominantly Muslim while the Balinese are
Hindu.The Sasak language is closely related to the languages of Bali and
Sumbawa, and to most other languages of Indonesia more distantly. Little
is known about Sasak history except that Lombok was placed under direct
rule of the Majapahit prime Minister, patih Gajah Mada. The Sasaks
converted to Islam between the late 16th century to early 17th century
under the influence of Sunan Giri and the Muslim Makassarese, frequently
mixing basic Islamic beliefs alongside with Hindu-Buddhist beliefs, thus
creating the Wektu Telu religion. Lombok was conquered by the Gelgel
Balinese kingdom in the early 18th century, thus bringing a large
population of Balinese to Lombok. The Balinese population of Lombok today
is about 300,000, 10-15% of Lombok's population. The Balinese have also
strongly influenced the Wektu Telu religion of Lombok.Most of the Sasaks
today are adherents of the Wektu Lima version of Islam. Wektu Lima or Five
Times signifies the five daily prayers which Muslims are required to do.
The term Wektu Lima is used to distinguish them from the Sasaks who are
practitioners of Wektu Telu or Three Times who only pray three times a
day. Orthodox Islamic teachers generally instruct adherents to pray five
times a day.
Large numbers of people adhering to the Wektu Telu faith can be still
found throughout the island, especially in the village of Bayan, where the
religion originated. Large Wektu Telu communities can be still found in
Mataram, Pujung, Sengkol, Rambitan, Sade, Tetebatu, Bumbung, Sembalun,
Senaru, Loyok and Pasugulan. A small minority of Sasaks called the Bodha
(estimated population: 8000) are mainly found in the village of Bentek and
on the slopes of Gunung Rinjani. They are totally untouched by Islamic
influence and worship animistic gods, incorporating some Hindu and
Buddhist influences in their rituals and religious vocabulary. This group
of Sasak, due in part to the name of their tribe, are recognized as
Buddhists by the Indonesian government.
The Buddha have the same magico-religious officials and institutions as
the Wektu Telu (with the exception of course of the Kiyai, the Wektu Telu
religious official dealing with all aspects of the Wektu Telu religion
which mixes Islam and animism). The Bodhas recognize the existence of five
main gods, the highest of which is Batara Guru, followed by Batara Sakti
and Batara Jeneng with their wives Idadari Sakti and Idadari Jeneng,
though they also believe in Spirits and Ghosts. The Bodha religion is also
to some extent influenced by both Hindu and Buddhist concepts. Of late,
they have come under the influence of mainstream Buddhism from Buddhist
missionaries.
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Indonesia Tours |
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Komodo
Tour
We will take
you to the island of the giant lizard of Komodo and get
close with this animal in their own habitat in 3days
at USD 350. Experience and explorer the remote islands in
East of Indonesia. |
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