Everybody were in celebration mood as thousands of them from near and far converged Kampung Sebujit in West Kalimantan, Indonesia to witness the annual human's skulls bathing ritual called 'nyobeng' in the local Bidayuh language.
The ceremony which was practised by pagan Bidayuh a long time ago is still observed by the community in the Sibujit district of West Kalimantan in Indonesia.
A group of 17 Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Supreme Council members and branches leaders led by its president Datuk Ik Pahon Anak Joyik were in Sebujit in the District of Siding Kabupaten Bengkayang in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia to join the Bidayuh community there to celebrate the 'nyobeng' ritual/festival and the "Budaya Serumpun" gathering.
DBNA group was invited by the Dayak Bidayuh Indonesia (DBI) as their quests to witness the occassion and also to participate in the 'Budaya Serumpun" gathering held at Kampung Sibujit recently.Traditionally hundreds of years ago 'nyobeng' was being held to welcome home their worriors from head-hunting trips but since head hunting activities is no longer being practised here nowadays, the ceremony is being held to bath the skulls captured by their ancestors.
Every time the ceremony is being observed the Bidayuh community in Sibujit will invite fellow Bidayuh from Sarawak to attend the occassion.
According to several reference, ‘nyobeng’ is a ritual of bathing the human skulls which was captured during the ‘ngayau’ (headhunting trip) by their ancestors hundreds of years ago.
The 'nyobeng' ceremony lasted for three days and the purpose was to appease the spirit of the skulls so that it would not harm the villagers.According to the 'ketua adat' (customary chief) of Kampung Sebujit, Pak Amin, during the 'nyobeng' ritual the spirit of the human skulls are being fed and the skulls which are kept in the 'adat house' (customar house) are given bath.
During the ritual ceremony all the worriors gathered at the entrance to the village to guest and asked on their purpose of visit to the village.
"Nyobeng is an annual ritual ceremony performed since our forefather time. In the olden days the ceremony was held to welcome home our worriors from the headhunting trip but as there is no more headhunting activities the occassion is being observed to bath the skulls," explained Pak Ali.
Dressed in red with beads and animal teeths decorated around their neck and armed with parangs, blowpipes and guns the worriors fired gun shots to the air to welcome their guests.
Pak Amin said the gun shot was to call the spirits of "komang" or "leluhur" and at the same time asking permission from the spirits to perform the 'nyobeng' ritual.
At the ceremony recently the 'ketua adat' threw a dog to the air and a group leader of DBNA delegates was given the honour to slaughter the dog.
Later on the 'ketua adat' threw a black chicken to the air and again the delegates' leader was asked to slaughter it.
The 'ketua adat' later invited the women taking part in the ritual to throw eggs to their quests. If the eggs broke it mean the vistors are coming to the village with sincerity.
While the 'ketua adat' threw white and yellow coloured rice to the air he chanting to the spirits to seek the permission to hold the ritual.
Later the ladies offered tuak to the quests and escorted them to 'Rumah Balug' in the middle of the village for another session of the 'nyobeng' ritual ceremony.
Meanwhile the “Budaya Serumpun” event was organised by Dinas Budparpora Bengkayang through Kasi Kesenian Tradisional dan Modern, Ricky H. Silalahi Jumat. The organiser for DBNA were Ik Pahon and Alim Mideh.
The journey from the Malaysian-Indonesian boarder to Seluas in West Kalimantan, Indonesia was arranged by K.Gunawan of Sibujit and it took about one hour through Jagoi Babang and Siding district.
From Seluas bazaar the group took boat ride to reach Sungai Bumbum before continuing their journey on foot for one and a half hour to reach Kampung Sebujit.
"We have to walk through muddy jungle paths and it was a tiring journey for the participants but everybody was smiled as they arrived in Sibujit," said one of the delegate's member, Joseph Jindy.Jindy explained that the visit was to enable DBNA dan Dayak Bidayuh Indonesia to enhance culture cooperation between the Bidayuh of both countries.
"It is hoped that the visit and the organisation of the "Budaya Serumpun' event could promote positive attitude among the Bidayuh from both side in various fields including ecomomic, social, culture and agriculture," he said.
On arrival in Sibujit the delegates were brought to Rumah Adat or locally known as “Rumah Adat Balug”. The house is owned by the local Bidayuh. It is situated at Desa Sebujit and was used for the 'nyobeng' ritual ceremony.
In Sebujit also found homestay programme to house the guests. Some of DBNA delegates also stayed at the homestay. Altogether 15 homestay houses are available there, with a canteen. Each house is able to accomodate five to six guests.
For some this probably the first time they ever witnessed the 'nyobeng' ritual ceremony.
"ADIL KATA LINO, BACURAMIN KA SARUGA, BASENGAT KA JUBATA"
