<![CDATA[This study examines the role of social and cultural structures as mechanisms in reconstructing and maintaining the religious practices of Hindu Kaharingan amidst the challenges of modernization. As a local belief system of the Dayak community in Central Kalimantan, Hindu Kaharingan functions not only spiritually but also as a guardian of cultural identity. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a phenomenological study design. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document studies to understand the meanings and experiences of the practitioners. The findings reveal that major rituals, such as Tiwah, serve a dual purpose: spiritually, to guide the souls of ancestors, and socially, as a community adhesive that reinforces solidarity through mutual cooperation (handep). Through the lens of Functionalism Theory and Religious Systems Theory, this study reveals that religious ceremonies act as a vital medium for cultural transmission. The active involvement of the younger generation in these rites serves as a non-formal educational mechanism for passing down values, philosophies, and ancestral knowledge within an oral tradition system. Thus, the socio-cultural role of the community functions as an adaptive and resistive strategy that ensures the continuity of the spiritual identity and cultural resilience of Hindu Kaharingan in the contemporary era.]]>
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