Fieldwork Notes Magic-planting Ritual of Golok Ciomas

Abstract

On January 2013, six researchers of Laboratorium Bantenologi visited the village of Babakan in the sub-district of Ciomas, a regency of Serang, Banten Province to watch an annual ritual of magic “planting” (pengisian) of Golok Ciomas (Ciomas Machete). The journey from Serang  City where Laboratorium Bantenologi office was located took about an hour. Our destination was Kyai Muhaimin’s house. Kyai Muhaimin was the leader of Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) Sanabil al-Huda located in the village of Citaman, Ciomas. We had previously visited the house several times to observe the ritual as well as accompany colleagues from different areas to witness the ritual. The ritual was intended to “plant inside” the golok a magical power. Such a ritual also became customary between the 1^st until the 12th of Rabiul Awwal, the first month in Islamic calendar, every year.