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Eva Susanti
State Islamic University of Mataram

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Decoding the Sacred: Social and Symbolic Interactions in Traditional Melala Healing Practices of West Sumbawa Eva Susanti
Nusantara: Journal of Religion and Civilization Vol 2 No 1 (2026): Cultural Resilience and Social Cohesion: A Sociological Analysis of Indigenous Ri
Publisher : Tabéq Care Center and UIN Mataram

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.67377/nusantara.v2i1.73

Abstract

The intersection of cultural heritage and traditional health practices is a critical focal point for understanding indigenous societies. This article examines the Melala tradition, a traditional oil-making ritual practiced by the Samawa tribe in Goa Village, West Sumbawa, Indonesia. Conducted exclusively during the Islamic month of Muharram by a traditional healer known as a sandro, the practice currently faces existential threats from modernization and generational disengagement. This study analyzes the socio-cultural dynamics of Melala through the frameworks of George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer's Symbolic Interactionism and Max Weber's Theory of Social Action. The findings reveal profound symbolic meanings embedded in the ritual, such as the use of odd numbers to symbolize divine oneness and the stirring of boiling oil as a manifestation of spiritual focus (khusyu'). Additionally, the tradition fosters community cohesion through cooperative interaction, cultural exchange, and covert spiritual competition. Ultimately, the Melala festival functions as an evolutionary and functionalist mechanism for the community to negotiate identity, preserve local wisdom, and stimulate the local economy.
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