Jagir Festival is abbreviated from Jayagiri Festival. A celebration for the 33rd anniversary of Jayagiri village, Panumbangan District, Ciamis Regency. When you attend the festival, please explore more about the peaceful, quiet, and natural village.
Jayagiri Image
When: 3rd-4th June 2016. It is an annual event. Please check the schedule at www.indonesia.travel
Where: Jayagiri village, Panumbangan District, Ciamis Regency.
Events: Wayang Ajen, Cultural carnival parade such as Wayang Landung, Bebegig, Sisingaan, Pencak Silat, Sundanese traditional music – Angklung, Panjat Pinang, Perang Lumpur, food and art stalls.
How: Rent a car from Jakarta to Ciamis/Tasikmalaya. It will take you approximately 6-8 hours ride. Usually tourist likes to stay in Tasikmalaya and start from there to go around Ciamis because of its near destination.
What:
Wayang Ajen
Wayang means puppet, marionette. Ajen (Sundanese language) means value, meaning. While Ngajen (Sundanese) means to appreciate, to give respect. Wayang Ajen was innovated from the Sundanese tradition of Wayang Golek. It was made by two innovators, Wawan S. Gunawan and Arthur S. Nalan in the year of 1998. Wayang Ajen was made to follow the new era and to trigger the excitement especially for the young generations towards wayang golek.
Wayang Golek
Wayang Golek
The Wayang Ajen Show
The crowd watching Wayang Ajen
The Cultural Carnival
Wayang Landung
Landung in Sundanese and Indonesian language means long, tall. In this case, Wayang Landung is a tall wayang. Usually, they are 3 meters high and a person has to operate it for as heavy as 20-30 Kg. What makes it interesting is the creativity in creating the Wayang Landung with all sorts of fresh and dry leaves. The show is usually performed through parade and fight. There is no specific story for Wayang Landung but it is meant to entertain the audience as the fighting part is usually funny. Two wayang’s are hitting each other with their gada (a huge beater weapon). Basically, a person will operate the Wayang Landung and it is called the same with Wayang Golek which is Dalang.
Wayang Landung – Squad
Wayang Landung – The fight
Wayang Landung
Bebegig
A mask similar to barong but different in its purpose, design and meanings. Bebegig is Sundanese language which means scarecrow. But over here, it doesn’t relate to scarecrows in the paddy fields. Bebegig is one of the iconic tradition from Ciamis – Sukamantri District that derives from the era of Sundanese Kingdom and the Bubat war. Also, the mask was also said to be inspired from the face of Prabu Sampulur who is known to destroy crime and rule Java land. Therefore, bebegig is a symbol of victory. Its purpose is to take care the area of Sukamantri village and the spring water that flows from the mountain to Sukamantri village. Bebegig mask is made out of natural elements such as wood, waregu leaf, hahapaan flower (wild hops), Aren palm leaf and Bubuay flower (rotan flower). The design of the face mask created like the photos were made like that since 2003.
Bebegig
Bebegig
Bebegig
Perang Gubyak
Mud war is a tradition from Ciamis. A mass of locals will gather up in a mud pool in the search for fishes. During the Jagir Festival, the locals were meant to look for huge catfishes. The one who finds the fish may keep it to cook for home.
Perang Gubyak – Mud War
Critics:
1. Some shows were not according to the given schedule.
2. Guide book would be nice to understand each Ciamis tradition and Wayang Ajen’s show. So, the tourist would understand the story, its meanings and every important detail. This will give tourist an engagement with the festival.
Opinion:
Overall, Jagir Festival gave the tourists a feeling of being in the Sundanese land through its music, MC and performances. It is great! This is what we’re looking for! Although, it was only in short days but the performances were all mostly traditional- just what the tourism needs to be in representing their area. Less modification but more of the real culture. Other then that, among all the festivals I’ve been in Indonesia, Jagir Festival is consistent in conveying the brand of Indonesia, which is Pesona Indonesia through MC, banners, audio visual media, and souvenirs. By that, when I came to the event, I felt that the festival is official and it is supported by the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia. Well thought and cared. I hope next year, more of Ciamis and Sundanese’s culture and tradition will be presented in original traditional performances (not in modification costumes, etc). Way to go Jagir Festival!
For more information you may click the link here: www.indonesia.travel
All photographs are taken by Fiona Callaghan.
Note from The Adventuress:
Always stay as a Conscious Adventurer with The Adventuress spirit of Peace, Love, Adventure, Nature, and Positivity or PLAN+ in short. With that, you wouldn’t want to harm the nature and destroy it. Rather you would want to explore the earth to learn its beauty as your private experience that will teach you to be a better person each day and value the wonderful creation of God.
Peace & Light,
The Adventuress