ENGLISH FOR TOURISM

TABOT

Group 3:
-

Muti ana zain

-Intan Permata s
- Idam Kholik
-Arya Wanda
- Zendo

SMA NEGERI 3 CITY OF BENGKULU

2014-2015

PREFACE
First at all, give thanks for Gods love and grace for us. Thanks to God for helping me and
give me chance to finish this assignment timely. And I would like to say thank you to Mrs.
Marlena S.Pd as the lecturer that always teaches us and give much knowledge about how to
practice English well.
This assignment is tentang tabot, I realized this assignment is not perfect. But I hope it can be
useful for us. Critics and suggestion is needed here to make this assignment be better.
Hopefully we as a student in SMA N 3 Bengkulu can work more professional by using
English as the second language whatever we done. Thank you.

October to 3 November 2014

Writing

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE............................................................................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................................
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................
1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................
1.2 Formulation of Writing .................................................................................................
1.3 Purpose Essay ...............................................................................................................
CHAPTER II DISCUSSION OF CONTENTS ..................................................................
2.1 Traditional Ceremony ...................................................................................................
CHAPTER III CLOSING ...................................................................................................
3.1 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................
HERITAGE LIST................................................................................................................

PART I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background
This paper was prepared in order to fulfill the task ENGLISH FOR TOURISM. This paper is
based on the group, and our group will discuss the culture, especially traditional ceremonies
traditional Bengkulu. We conducted a survey in the area of Kampung, on Sunday 24th
October to 3 November 2014.
The Bengkulu Tabot Festival is an annual cultural celebration that is not to be missed. This
festival, both religious and cultural, is witnessed by hundreds, if not thousands of people who
flock into the city at the respective time of year to watch this unique and sacred procession. It
is held from the 1st to the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharam. Aside from being a
religious ritual, the festival is also alive with performing arts, local markets, traditional
handicraft, and sport.
B.Formulation of Writing
1. Regarding the ceremonial bengkulu ie tabot
2. The history of the festival tabot
3. Photo documentation photos
C. Purpose Essay
1. Meet the EFT task
2. Increase knowledge of ceremonial bengkulu especially tabot
3. Knowing the ceremonial tabot

PART II

DISCUSSION
2.1 INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL CEREMONY
I. WONDERFULL OF CULTURAL FESTIVAL TOUR TABOT IN BENGKULU
A. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT TABOT
The ritual of Tabot is part of Bengkulu people tradition to memorize the tragical event of the
death of the grandson of the prophet Muhammad PBUH, Husein bin Ali Bin Abi Thalib, in
the battle versus the troop of Ubaidillah bin Zain in Karbala, Iraq, on 10 Muharam 61
Hijriyah (681 C.E.). This ritual is held for about 10 days, every Muharram first to tenth.
Therefore, at the beginning, the core of the ritual Tabot is to memorize the attempt of a Syiah
leader and his followers in collecting the part of Huseins cutting body, to accompany the
procession and to burry him in savannah of Karbala.
The word of Tabot is derived from an Arabic word tabut, which literally means wooden
box or case. In Quran the word of Tabot is known as a case containing the Book of Taurat.
Israeli at that time believed that they would get the virtuous if the Tabot appeared in the hand
of their leader. Contrarily, they would get disaster if the staff loosed.
There is no written proof since the ritual of Tabot began to be known in Bengkulu. However,
it is strongly assumed that the tradition which start from the mourn ritual of Syiism follower
was brought by the skilled laborers building Marlborought Fort (1718-1719 C.E.) in
Bengkulu. The skilled laborers were taken here by England from Madras and Bengali, south
of India who were also the follower of Syiah.
The workers, who are appropriate with Bengkulu Peoples way of life, led by Imam Senggolo
(Syekh Burhanuddin), decided to live and build a new settlement called Berkas, currently
known as Kelurahan Tengah Padang. The tradition coming from Madras and Bengali was
bequeathed to their descendant who has made assimilation with original Bengkulu people and
produce the descendant known as Sipai people.
The mourn tradition taken from the country made assimilation and acculturation with the
Bengkulu people culture, and then was bequeathed and institutionalized become what then is
known as Tabot ritual. This Tabot ritual is more and more extent from Bengkulu to Painan,
Padang, Pariaman, Maninjau, Pidie, Banda Aceh, Meulaboh, and Singkil. But furtherly the
Tabot ritual activities disappeared in many places. Finally, it was just remained in two places,
in Bengkulu known as Tabot and in Pariaman Sumbar (coming into that place about 1831
C.E.) known as Tabuik. Both is similar, but the way of performing is rather different.
If Tabot ritual (Tabuik) is used by Syiah people at the beginning to memorize the death of
Husein bin Ali bin Abi Thalib, the ritual is performed only for the duty of family to fulfill the

message of their forefathers since the people of Sipai free from the effect of the doctrines of
Syiah. Recently, since a recent decade, besides performing the message of forefathers, this
ritual is also meant as the participation of Sipai people in forming and developing local
culture of Bengkulu.

The Process of Throwing Tabot (Tabuik) To The Sea (Pariaman, West Sumatra)
The socio-cultural condition of people seem to be also the reason of appearing the difference
in the way of performing the Tabot ritual. In Bengkulu, for instance, the number of Tabot is
17 which referes to the number of person in earlier family performing Tabot; but in Pariaman
is only two sorts of Tabot (Tabuik), tabuik Subarang and Tabuik Pasa. The place of throwing
Tabot (Tabuik) is different between both, Bengkulu and Pariaman. At the beginning, Tabot of
Bengkulu is thrown in marsh located at around the place Imam Senggolo (Syekh
Burhanuddin) is burried.
Recently, a lot of criticism from various society elements due to the implementation of the
Tabot ceremony. The very basic criticism is the changing of the Tabot ceremony function
from the ritual activity that has a religious nuance to become simply a cultural festival. This
likely because of fact that people performing the Tabot ceremony are non-Syiah. The loss of
the sacred values of the Tabot ceremony is worsened progressively by what is then known as
Tabot development (Tabot which is created by government in big number).
2. The Equipments
To perform the Tabot ceremony, there are some equipments that have to be prepared :
- Making of Tabot
There are some equipments needed to make the Tabot: bamboo, rattan, pasteboard paper,
paper of mar-mar, paper of grip, string, knife carve, picture appliances, flashlight, decorative
lamp, bogainvillaea, flower of plastic and etc. If it is calculated from the number of the
equipment needed, the expense required to make Tabot is around 5-15 million rupiah.
- Offerings and Kenduri.
Materials used to make offerings and kenduri are: sticky rice, gold banana, suggar cane,
gingger, dadeh, palm sugar, sand sugar, coconut, chicken, flesh, ripe flavour, incense, and etc.
- Tabot Music
Castanetss which are usually used in ceremony of Tabot is dol and tessa. Dol is made of
wood which is pierced in the middle and then covered with cow husk. Dol is like drum in
form. Its diameter is about 70 - 125 cm, and its beater appliance has 5 cm in diameter and 30
cm in length. The way of using it is by lapping it. The tessa is like rebana, made of copper,
plate iron or alumunium, and also can be made of frying-pan that its surface is covered with
dried goat husk.

- Other Equipments
Other equipments which must be prepared in each unit of Tabot is : red and white flag
household size measure including its pillar, blue or green chromatic pennons flag which is
bigger than flag of red-white, whiteflag which is equal to panil in its size (along with its
pillar), lance which has double eye (sharp side) and in its back part is hung by a duplicate
sword of zulfikar (sword of Rasulullah) in mini size.
3. The Way of Performing the Ceremony
Ritual of Tabot shall be drawn as following steps: taking land, sit penja, menjara, meradai,
pageant of penja, turban pageant, Gam, huge pageant, and tebuang Tabot.
a. Mengambik Tanah (Taking Land)
Taken land has to contain magical element, therefore it has to be taken from sacred places.
Theres only two places assumed as the sacred places in Bengkulu, keramat tapak padri that
is located in waterfront, nearby to the Marlborough fortress in the right corner of Bengkulu
harbor, and Keramat Anggut which is located in public funeral of Pasar Tebek nearby
monument of Hamilton, nearby to the coast of Nala. This ceremony takes place at night of 1
Muharam at around 22.00 p.m.
The taken land is stored in Gerga (center of activities/ group station of Tabot), formed like
human being doll, and wrapped with white winding sheet, then put down in Gerga. The eldest
Gerga in Bengkulu are only two, those are Gerga Berkas (Bind) and Gerga Bangsal (Barn).
Both have been renovated and now they become a permanent building.
At both places, they put offering (sesajen) in the form of: red and white mushes, demerara, 7
sheets of sirih, 7 bars of smoke nipah, a cup of black coffee, a cup of irrigate serbat, a cup of
curd (ox milk of murni raw), a cup of sandalwood water, a cup of sweet basil and water.
b. Duduk Penja (Cleaning Fingers)
Penja is an object made of cupreous, silver or copper in form of human being palm complete
with its fingers. Hence this penja is referred also with fingers. According to family of Sipai,
the penja is a sacred object containing magical element in it. It has to be cleaned by lemon
water every year. Ceremony of cleaning the penja is called as duduk penja, which is
conducted in 5 Muharram around 16.00 p.m.
In the penja ceremony, equipments required are: water mixed with certain flowers, water lime
of nipis, sesajen (offering), and penja which will be cleaned. Offerings drawn up compose: 1
portion of kebuli rice, 1 saucer of rice chips emping, 1 comb of emas banana, 1 cutting of
tebung, a glass of black coffee, a glass of serobat water, and a glass of curd.
c. Menjara (Mengandun)
Menjara is to pay a visit or visit other group for contesting dol, a kind of drum made of wood,

which is made a hole in its middle and also closed over with cow husk.
This activity is performed in 6th and 7th of Muharram starting at 20.00 or 23.00 p.m. In
Muharram 6th, the group of Tobat Bangsal visit group of Tobat Barkas, while in Muharram
7th the group of Tobat barkas visit the group of Tobat Bangsal. This activity take place at the
open yard provided by each group.
d. Meradai (Collecting Fund)
The Meradai is taking fund by jola (a Malay word which means one who has responsible to
take fund for the social activity) consisting of children in the age 10-12 year. This rite is
conducted in Muharram 6th at about 07.00-17.00 p.m. The location of taking fund usually has
been agreed by each group of Tabot.
The required equipments are: pennon flag, lance with double eye, bag or kambut, grist sack,
and tessa.
e. Penja Procession (Arak Jari-Jari).
Penja procession or Arak Jari-Jari is a program of fingers procession put down in Tabot on
every main roads of Bengkulu city. This rite is performed at the 8th night of Muharram, at
around 19.00 p.m. and will end at about 21.00 p.m.
The required equipments used as offering materials are : 1 portion of kebuli rice, a glass of
black coffee, a glass of serobat water, an omellette, 7 types of lauk (side dishes especially
meat or fish served with rice).
f. Turban Procession (Mengarak Sorban)
The turban procession is the event of Penja Procession added with white turban and put down
at Coki Tabot (Small Tabot). This Coki Tabot is completed with flag/blue or green and white
chromatic pennons which is written on it the name of Hasan and Husain with beautiful
Arabic calligraphy. This activity is performed at 9th night of Muharram around 19.00-21.00
p.m.
As it is reflected from its name, the required equipments in this event are the Tabot and
Seroban. In addition, it is also needed a special fabric and Coki Tabot (monarchic chair/
throne).
g. Gam (Calm/ Mourning)
One of the steps in ceremony of Tabot which must be adhered is gam. Gam is time which
is free from any activity. Gam is derived from word ghum which means closed or blocked.
On 9 Muharram is the period of this gam, from at 07.00 to 16.00 p.m. that all of the activities
related to the ceremony of Tabot including sounding dol and tessa are not allowed to be
conducted at that time. Therefore, a period of Gam is also named as a period of calm/ peace.
h. Gedang Procession (Taptu of Akbar)

At 9th night of Muharram around 19.00 p.m., it is performed a discharge ritual of Besanding
Tabot in each Gergas (station). Then, it is continued with procession of Gedang, that the
groups of Tabot parade from each stations through determined route. Later, they will meet
and form a gedang parade (huge parade). This procession becomes multitude because of
uniting groups of Tabot, groups of entertainment, all of their supporters and also society. This
event will end at around 20.00 p.m. The end of this huge procession rite is marked by
gathering of all Tabots and groups of entertainer in the field of Merdeka Bengkulu (now is
Province Monument Field). Tabots are lined up side by side, which is called disandingkan
(being sat side by side) in local term. Side by side, hence this event is named by Tabot
Besanding.
The required equipment in this rite is a wagon, which is used to transport the Tabot to an
appointed place of Tabot.
i.Tabot Tebuang (Tabot Terbuang)
The last event of ceremony series of Tabot is event of Tabot Tebuang performed on 10
Muharram. At 09.00 p.m. all Tabots are
gathered in Merdeka field and have sat side by side as night of Tabot Besanding. At that time,
the groups of entertainment will gather in the place and then entertain all visitors. At about
11.00 a.m., procession of Tabot will be moved to Teak Field (Padang Jati) and will end in
complex of public funeral of Karabela. This place becomes the rite location of ritual tebuang
Tabot because Imam Senggolo (Sheikh Burhanuddin), exponent of ceremony of Tabot in
Bengkulu is buried here.
At about 12.30 a.m, the rite of Tabot Tebuang in grave of Senggolo is done. Because it is
considered as a magical loaded
rite, this rite can only be led by the eldest Shaman of Tabot. After finishing the rituals above,
then structure of Tabots are thrown to the marsh beside mausoleum complex. By casting
away Tabot at about 13.30 p.m., so the entire of the ceremony steps of Tabot is completed.
War of Tabot (Tabuik) in Pariaman, West Sumatera
4. The Prayers and Mantras
Every step in the Tabot ceremony is always started by reading Basmalah and prayers. These
prayers are :
* Grave prayer.
* Prayer to ask His salvation and forgiveness to the soul of moslem people in the world
* Reciting Tasbih
* Reciting Shalawat Ulul Azmi
* Reciting Sholawat Wasilah
* etc.

5. The Cultural Values

In general, the performance of Tabot ceremony has two values: religious values (sacred), and
historical and social values. There are religious values (sacred) in Tabot ceremony that can be
taken : first, a process of taking land, it can remind human being about the origin of their
creation; second, regardless the opinion that Tabot ritual contains many deviant beliefs of
Moslem, such as use of Quranic verses and reciting mantera-mantera in process of taking
land (mengambik tanah), but the essence is to awake us that religiousity or spirituality cannot
be separated from cultural values; and third, the performing of Tabot ceremony represents the
celebration of people to greet Islamic New Year.
Historical value implied in tradition of Tabot is as a love manifestation and memorizing the
passing away of Prophet Muhammad
PBUHs grandson, Husein bin Abi Thalib. He had been killed in Field of Karbela. The value
is also as an expression of hostility to family of Bani Umayyah in general, and especially
Yazid bin Muawiyah as the ruler (chalipate) at that time, together with Governor of
Ubaidillah bin Ziyad commanding in attacking to Husain bin Ali bin Abi Thalib together with
their soldiers. Social values consisted in it, for example: reminding human being about
legalizing practice with any ways in order to get the top position, and symbolizing the social
concern.
A lot of wisdom values can be dug and made to be a base to ford a life, but if it is not
received prudently, the ceremony of Tabot will become simply cultural festival losing its base
meaning. This rite is hilarious in performance (festival) but losing its spirit.
PART III
CLOSING
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. CONCLUSIONS
Tabot adalah suatu upacara adat yang ada di Bengkulu, Tabot berasal dari bahasa Arab yaitu
at taubat yang artinya miniatur keranda kematian yang bertingkat. Secara umum, ada dua
nilai yang terkandung dalam pelaksanaan upacara Tabot, yaitu: nilai Agama (sakral), sejarah,
dan sosial. Nilai-nilai yang terkandung dalam upacara Tabot adalah nilai agama (sakral).
B. RECOMMENDATIONS
Tabot kali ini sudah baik namun alahkah baiknya lagi bila pemerintah lebih mengelolanya
lebih terstrktur, baik itu dari segi penempatan peserta nya maupun dari kemeriahan yang
disuguhkan untuk menyukseskan Festival tabot. Sehingga dapat di harapkan Festival Tabot
akan menjadi daya tarik yang dapat mengundang turis laokal maupun manca negara secara
maksimal. Pemerintah harus bisa memanfaatkan momen yang di adakan setiap tahun

tersebut. Bila semuanya sudah dilaksanakan secara baik dan terstrukture maka akan
memberikan income bagi provinsi Bengkulu dan menjadi agenda tahunan yang menjanjikan
bagi rakyat Bengkulu.
Now, festival Tabot was good, but much better again if the government is more stuctured
manage, both in terms of the participants and the placement of the festivities that are served
to the success of the Festival tabot. So it can be expected that Tabot Festival will be an
attraction to invite local and foreign tourists to the fullest. The government should be able to
seize the moment that is held every year. When everything is done properly and structured, it
will provide income for the provinces of Bengkulu and become an annual event that promises
to the people of Bengkulu.

REFERENCES
Resource
Bambang Indarto. Ritual Budaya Tabot Sebagai Media Penyiaran Dakwah Islam di
Bengkulu, Skripsi Fakultas Dakwah UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, 2006
Direktorat Sejarah dan Nilai Tradisional Depdikbud. Upacara Tabot: Upacara Tradisional
Daerah Bengkulu di Kotamadya Bengkulu, 1991/1992.
Dan, Tabot Sakral Itu Pun Patah... Harian Kompas, 15 Februari 2006
Tugu Tabot Tak Boleh Dibongkar! Harian Rakyat Bengkulu
Upacara Tabot (Bengkulu). melayuonline.com