Tabut Festival (Cultural Center)

Philosophy and Historical Footprint of Tabut in Bengkulu

This Cultural Center is founded on the Tabut tradition brought by builders from Madras, India, who accompanied the British during the construction of Marlborough Fort in the 17th century. This tradition was initially a mourning ritual for the death of Prophet Muhammad SAW's grandson, Imam Hussain bin Ali, in the Battle of Karbala. In Bengkulu, this ritual has transformed into a unique local identity through the touch of local art.

As a cultural center, the Tabut Festival plays a dual role: as a guardian of the ritual's sacredness for the Kerukunan Keluarga Tabut (KKT - Tabut Family Harmony) and as a stage for creativity for the general public. The organizational structure of this center ensures that every aspect of the ten-day procession—from Mengambil Tanah (Taking Earth) to Tabut Terbuang (Tabut Discarded)—is executed with high historical accuracy.

Traditional Performing Arts Preservation Programs

This Cultural Center regularly organizes art training and performance programs that form the backbone of Bengkulu's culture. One of its main focuses is Doll music. Doll is a percussion instrument shaped like a large drum made from coconut tree trunks and covered with cowhide. At this cultural center, young generations are taught various distinctive Doll playing techniques, such as:

1. Suwena: A rhythm used in somber or calm atmospheres.

2. Tam-tam: An energetic and fast rhythm, usually used in competitions.

3. Suwari: A rhythm used to accompany dances or processions.

Besides Doll music, this cultural center serves as a platform for the development of Bengkulu Plate Dance and Ganau Dance. These programs not only teach movements but also the philosophy behind each gesture, ensuring that these performing arts retain their original soul even when performed on modern stages.

Tabut Crafts and Architecture: A Legacy of Diligence

One of the most prominent unique features of the Tabut Festival Cultural Center is the workshop for building the Tabut structures themselves. A Tabut is a tiered structure resembling a tower or an ornate coffin made from bamboo, wood, rattan, and decorated with colorful crepe paper and decorative lights.

At this cultural center, senior craftsmen or "Maestro Tabut" pass on their skills to the youth of Bengkulu. The making process is very specific, involving intricate bamboo weaving techniques and a decoration art called bunga kertas (paper flowers). There are two types of Tabut that are the focus of education:

• Sacred Tabut: Made by families of original descendants with strict customary rules.
• Construction Tabut: Made by institutions or the general public as a form of cultural and aesthetic participation.

This workshop aims to ensure that these traditional craftsmanship techniques do not become extinct and remain relevant as creative economic products for the local community.

Education and Community Involvement

The Tabut Festival Cultural Center does not operate as an exclusive institution. Instead, it functions as a social laboratory for the people of Bengkulu. The educational programs offered include:

1. Tabut Culture School: A weekly program for elementary to high school students to learn about Bengkulu's history and the basics of traditional arts.

2. Cultural Discussions (Seminars): Inviting historians and culturalists to discuss the relevance of Tabut values in modern life, such as heroism, patience, and mutual cooperation.

3. Cultural Literacy: Providing archives and visual documentation on the evolution of the Tabut Festival over time, accessible to researchers and tourists.

Community involvement is also evident in the festival's logistical preparations. Mothers around the cultural center are often involved in preparing traditional dishes served during the rituals, creating a micro-economic ecosystem based on local wisdom.

Tabut Festival: The Climax of Cultural Manifestation

Every 1st to 10th of Muharram, this cultural center becomes the gravitational center of Bengkulu's tourism. The Tabut Festival has been recognized as one of the national agendas in the Kharisma Event Nusantara (National Event Charm) by the Ministry of Tourism. For ten days, the cultural center coordinates a series of very specific events:

• Upacara Mengambil Tanah (Taking Earth Ceremony): Symbolizing the creation of humans from earth.
• Duduk Penja: Cleansing of sacred objects.
• Menjara: A procession of Doll music battles between groups.
• Arak Jari-Jari and Arak Sorban: Symbolic processions carrying replicas of the Karbala heroes' body parts.
• Tabut Bersanding (Tabut Side-by-Side): The climax of the exhibition where dozens of giant Tabut structures are displayed side-by-side in the main field, creating a spectacular sight.

This event is not just a spectacle but an arena for cultural diplomacy where international guests often attend to witness how Persian-Indian traditions have perfectly acculturated with the Malay culture of Bengkulu.

Role in Local Cultural Development

The Tabut Festival Cultural Center plays a crucial role in positioning Bengkulu on the global cultural map. With this center, local artists have space to experiment without abandoning their traditional roots. This encourages the birth of "Tradition-Based Contemporary Art," where Doll music is combined with modern instruments like electric guitars or saxophones, while still maintaining the original rhythmic patterns.

Furthermore, this center acts as a driving force for other handicraft industries, such as Batik Besurek (Bengkulu's distinctive batik with aesthetic Arabic calligraphy motifs). Often, the motifs on the Tabut structures inspire new designs on Besurek fabric, creating synergy between different art branches.

Heritage Preservation in the Digital Era

Recognizing the challenges of the times, the Tabut Festival Cultural Center is now venturing into the digital world. They are digitizing ancient manuscripts related to the Tabut family lineage and documenting every step of the ritual in high-quality video format. This is done so that millennials and Gen Z can still feel a sense of belonging to their culture through the platforms they use daily.

This cultural center also functions as a curator for MSME actors who wish to sell Tabut-themed merchandise, ensuring that the use of cultural symbols respects the existing sacred values.

Conclusion

The Tabut Festival (Cultural Center) in Bengkulu is tangible proof that traditions do not have to be static to survive. Through a combination of respect for ancient rituals, structured education, and performing arts innovation, this cultural center has succeeded in keeping Bengkulu's identity strong amidst the tide of modernization. It is a place where earth, bamboo, and crepe paper are transformed into symbols of resistance against historical oblivion, while also serving as a stage of joy for all the people of Bengkulu.