Compang Ruteng Pu'u

Architectural Philosophy and Spatial Planning of the Cultural Center

The physical structure of Compang Ruteng Pu’u reflects the philosophy of "Mbaru Baté Kamé, Natas Baté Labar" (House for living, courtyard for playing). At the center of the site lies the Compang, a raised circular stone altar. The Compang functions as a spiritual orientation point, a place for offerings to Mori Kraeng (God) and ancestors.

Surrounding the Compang stand two main traditional houses: Mbaru Niang. The architecture of these houses is perfectly conical with thatched roofs that hang down almost to the ground. The uniqueness of this cultural center lies in its internal spatial division, which symbolizes social hierarchy and functional roles, ranging from the Lutur (living room/meeting room) to the Hekang (seed storage room). The existence of these houses is not just as tourist attractions, but as living laboratories for the younger generation to learn traditional nail-less construction techniques that have endured for centuries.

Cultural Activities and Ritual Preservation Programs

As a cultural center, Compang Ruteng Pu’u hosts an annual cycle of rituals that are a major educational attraction. Its flagship program is the Penti ritual, a thanksgiving ceremony for the harvest and the traditional new year. During the Penti festival, all clans (Wa’u) gather to renew their bonds of brotherhood.

Other regular programs include:

1. Congko Lokap Ritual: A ceremony for cleansing traditional houses and the surrounding environment, involving esoteric prayers in ancient Manggarai language.

2. Teing Hang: Daily or weekly rituals of offering sacrifices to ancestors on the Compang, teaching the value of respecting lineage.

3. Lonto Leok: A customary deliberation forum held regularly to resolve social conflicts or plan community activities, making this site a center for cultural mediation.

Traditional Arts and Caci Performances

Art is the lifeblood of Compang Ruteng Pu’u. The most iconic performance is the Tari Caci, a war dance symbolizing masculinity and sportsmanship. Unlike commercial stage performances, Caci in Ruteng Pu’u is performed in the Natas (large courtyard) with strict customary rules. Visitors and researchers can learn the philosophy behind the Larik (whip), symbolizing the father/sky, and the Panggal (shield), symbolizing the mother/earth.

Besides Caci, this cultural center preserves communal dances such as:

• Tarian Sanda: A circle dance performed at night without musical accompaniment, relying solely on poetic singing (Kelong) that narrates the tribe's origin history.
• Tarian Rangkuk Alu: A dexterity game using bamboo, now developed into a performing art choreography for local youth.
• Seni Vokal Mbata: Sacred singing accompanied by the beat of drums and gongs, usually performed for extended durations to accompany traditional ceremonies.

Crafts and Culture-Based Creative Economy

Compang Ruteng Pu’u serves as an incubator for typical Manggarai handicrafts. Its main focus is the preservation of Kain Tenun Songke (Songke woven fabric). On the terraces of the traditional houses, mothers (Mama-Mama) actively weave traditional motifs such as Su’i (stripes), Mata Manuk (chicken eyes), and Wela Runu (small flowers).

This cultural center offers workshop programs for visitors who wish to learn natural dyeing processes using local plants and manual weaving techniques. Furthermore, the development of crafts such as making Panggal (Caci head ornaments) and wood carvings for traditional house ornamentation are economic empowerment programs for the village youth, ensuring that ancestral technical skills are not lost to time.

Education Programs and Community Involvement

One of the most crucial roles of Compang Ruteng Pu’u is its function as an informal education center for students in Manggarai Regency. Local schools periodically organize field trips to learn directly from the Tu’a Teno (traditional elders) about traditional leadership structures.

Education programs include:

• Polite Manggarai Language Class: Teaching literary diction (Go’ét) that is rarely used in daily conversation.
• Customary School: Regular discussions between traditional leaders and the younger generation about Manggarai social ethics, such as the concept of Neka Hemong Suku (do not forget your origins).
• Environmental Conservation: Teaching local wisdom in preserving springs and forests (Ruteng Protected Forest) located around the site, in accordance with the customary mandate to maintain natural balance.

Role in Regional Cultural Development

The local government and cultural authorities position Compang Ruteng Pu’u as a benchmark for Manggarai cultural authenticity. This site serves as a reference center for the construction of government buildings that wish to adopt local architectural elements. Additionally, it is a center for oral documentation, where the migration history of tribes from Minangkabau (as local legends mention their origins) to settling in Flores is documented through the narratives of the elders.

The existence of this cultural center also fosters the growth of Community-Based Tourism ecosystems. The community is not just an audience but direct managers, cultural guides, and accommodation providers offering the experience of living in traditional houses. This creates economic independence rooted in pride of their own cultural identity.

Heritage Preservation in the Modern Era

Facing the challenges of modernization, Compang Ruteng Pu’u is digitizing cultural narratives. Although rituals are still performed traditionally, video documentation and digital literacy about the philosophical meanings of this site are being developed to reach a global audience. Physical conservation efforts for the compang stones and the thatched roofs of the traditional houses are carried out through mutual cooperation every few years, a process called Mbaru Luju in the local language.

Overall, Compang Ruteng Pu’u is not just a destination, but a dynamic cultural institution. It is the guardian of the Manggarai civilization's flame, ensuring that amidst globalization, its people retain a strong anchor of identity. Through the integration of rituals, performing arts, education, and architectural conservation, Compang Ruteng Pu’u stands tall as a symbol of cultural resilience in East Nusa Tenggara.