LOCAL MUSLIMS HOLD RITUALS FOR LAYLAT AL-QADR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 26 (ANTARA)  - The last ten days of Ramadhan are the most cherished  by Muslims as on one night during this period a divine event, the Laylat al-Qadr, will happen  where God will give the faithful blessings of a magnitude equal to the blessings of  more than one thousand months.          All nights of Ramadhan are holy nights but Laylat al-Qadr, which is also known as 'The Night of Power' is the holiest night of this holy fasting month. It is the holiest night among all other holy nights throughout the entire year.          In observance of Laylat al-Qadr, local Muslims in a number of regions hold different rituals or festivals, such as the 'Ela Ela' festival in North Maluku's Ternate city, Tumpengan (rice cone ritual) in Blitar, East Java,  'lampu colok' (small kerosene lamps festival) in Dumai, Riu and 'Selikuran' (ritual during 21st night of Ramadhan)  in Lampung.          In Ternate, North Maluku, the Culture and Tourism Office will organize the Ela Ela festival as part of the effort to perpetuate  the local tradition in greeting the Night of Power. The Ela Ela is a local festival honoring the 27th Ramadhan in Ternate. All of the people light a fire in a candle made of banana trees.         "The festival will be held on Saturday night (Aug.27). All villages in Ternate are expected to take part in the festival," Head of Ternate Culture and Tourism Office Husen Alting said on Friday.          The Culture and Tourism Office would  provide a trophy and cash awards for village who wins the festival. Assessment will be focused on the beauty and colorfulness of the torches and lanterns put around villagers' houses or in certain places.          The people of Ternate hold the Ela Ela festival on every 21st night of Ramadhan because they believe that the night coincides with  the Laylat al-Qadr. The Ela Ela festival procession would  be centered at the palace of  the Sultan of Ternate.          At the palace sultanate officials, customary leaders and local people will perform a number of Ela Ela rituals.          Arifin Djafar, a noted figure at the sultanate said that the torches and lanterns in the Ela Ela traditional festival symbolized the happiness of the people in greeting the Night of Power. After all, it was a chance for the people of Ternate to earn additional income by selling torches and lanterns.          In Blitar, East Java, villagers in Krenceng village, Nglegok subdistrict held a 'tumpengan' (rice cone) ritual to welcome the arrival of Laylat al-Qadr.  The ritual was held in the village's hall. Mustain, one of the villagers' noted religious leaders, said that the locals had regularly held rice cone rituals during the Ramadhan fasting month.          He said that by offering tumpeng at the service they hoped they would attain blessings."In essence, this is part of alms offered during the odd night of Ramadhan. We only expect God's blessing," Mustain said.          All villagers took part in the tumpengan ritual where they all brought with them their respective rice cone complete with its side dishes. All rice cones were collected and put in one place in the village hall.          Mustain said that the activities were carried out in the last ten days of Ramadhan, particularly during the odd night, which is believed as a night better than one thousand months.         "This festivity is held every year which also serves as a means of brotherhood gathering among villagers," he said.          Mustain said that besides the rice cone service, villagers also held regular collective holy Koran reading, particularly at the odd night in the last ten days of Ramadhan and other non obligatory rituals such as sunnah prayers and other ritual deeds.          In Dumai, Riau province, the local people held 'lampu colok' (kerosene lamps) festival.  The oil lamps, similar to touches, were lit up and placed outside and around the houses. The Dumai Tourism and Culture Service even organized the lampu colok festival to welcome the ascension of Laylat al-Qadr on the 27th of Ramadhan.          Head of Dumai's Tourism and Culture Service H Heldar Afinta said his office had opened registration for the lampu colok festival since August 19, 2011. Many individuals from the public and organizations of companies had registered, he said.          Like in other regions, the lampu colok festival is a yearly agenda for welcoming the 27th night of Ramadhan and has been held regularly by villagers, according to Heldar.          He called on participants to decorate their lamps in any forms but were attractive to the eyes. "Decorations can be made in any forms like the forms of proa, mosques, stars, crescents and other objects that portray greatness," he said.          In the meantime, about 3,000 people have observed the Night of Power with holding 'malam selikuran.' Malam means night, selikuran means twenty third,  malam selikuran  refers to the twenty first night in  Ramadhan which is believed to coincide the Laylat al-Qadr.          "In observance of the advent of Laylat al-Qadr, we together with the Lampung people held malam selikuran," kata Lampung Governor Sjachroedin ZP, said.          The governor said that the malam selikuran tradition had been held since in the past and the event could well enliven the night with additional devotional deeds. He said that the people should welcome the night which was better than one thousand nights with increasing faith and devotion to God.         "If we count the blessings contained in the Laylat al-Qadr, the are comparable to the blessings of the entire nights of over 80 years," the governor said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/16:45/f001) 26-08-2011 16:43: