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Husnul Qodim
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Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions
Published by Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
ISSN : -     EISSN : 29885884     DOI : https://doi.org/10.15575/jcrt
Core Subject : Religion, Humanities, Social,
Religion Humanities Social Sciences
The Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions is a scholarly publication dedicated to the exploration and analysis of contemporary rituals and traditions from diverse cultural, social, and religious contexts. The journal provides a platform for interdisciplinary research and critical discourse on the significance, evolution, and meaning of rituals and traditions in the modern world. JCRT welcomes contributions from scholars, researchers, and practitioners in anthropology, sociology, religious studies, cultural studies, folklore, and performance studies. The journal publishes original research articles, theoretical discussions, comparative analyses, and case studies that shed light on various aspects of contemporary rituals and traditions, including their cultural, social, psychological, and symbolic dimensions.
Arjuna Subject : Ilmu Sosial - Kajian Budaya
Articles 32 Documents
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Spiritual and Communal Harmony Through Tarawangsa Traditional Art Meylani, Hilda; Hernawan, Wawan
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.661

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: This research explores how Tarawangsa Art, as a traditional cultural practice, plays a crucial role in strengthening communal identity and spirituality within the Budi Daya community in Cibedug, Lembang, West Java, Indonesia. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative approach through participatory observation and in-depth interviews with community members, traditional leaders, and practitioners of Tarawangsa Art. Main Findings: The findings reveal that Tarawangsa Art not only acts as an expression of culture and spirituality but also as a crucial pillar in nurturing the community's identity and social cohesion. Integrating cultural expressions, spiritual values, and social dynamics forms a strong foundation for communal togetherness. Additionally, the community's adaptability and resilience in maintaining this tradition demonstrate cultural flexibility and robustness in the face of modernization. Applications of this Study: These findings provide insights for policymakers, educational practitioners, and cultural preservation institutions on the importance of supporting Tarawangsa Art preservation initiatives. Novelty/Originality: This study offers a new perspective on the role of Tarawangsa Art in maintaining communal identity and cohesion in the era of globalization. Through in-depth research on this cultural practice, the study highlights how spirituality and community are interwoven in creating unique cultural adaptations amidst social and economic changes.
Review of “The Essential Whitall Perry” by Harry Oldmeadow Bendeck Sotillos, Samuel
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.690

Abstract

Whitall N. Perry (1920–2005) deserves wider recognition given the profundity of his insights, and the discernment he displays with respect to humanity’s great wisdom traditions. The editor of this volume has referred to him as “[t]he most authoritative traditionalist of American background” (Oldmeadow, 2000, p. 48). Readers may have encountered Perry’s work through A Treasury of Traditional Wisdom (1971)—a monumental compilation of spiritual texts from all the world’s religions. It is worth citing the following passage taken from the introduction to this landmark publication
Ritual Symbolism and Culinary Practice in Winter Solstice Folklore: A Comparative Study in East Asia Kobayashi, Fumihiko
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.674

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the symbolic and ritual functions of winter solstice food traditions—particularly red-bean porridge, wontons, and pumpkin-based dishes—in East Asian cultures (China, Korea, and Japan). The research aims to uncover how these culinary customs, rooted in folklore and seasonal cosmology, function as embodied responses to the liminality of the winter solstice, a period historically viewed as both auspicious and dangerous. Methodology: The study uses a qualitative-historical research approach, drawing from the disciplines of folklore, cultural anthropology, and historical ethnography. Data were collected through close readings of primary sources such as Jingchu Suishiji, Engishiki, and classical diaries, alongside secondary analyses by modern East Asian folklorists and scholars. Victor Turner’s theory of liminality serves as the core analytical framework, with a comparative lens applied across the three national contexts. Findings: The research finds that solstice food customs—like red-bean porridge in China and Korea, and pumpkin dishes in Japan—serve not merely as seasonal nourishment but as apotropaic rituals aimed at warding off evil spirits and maintaining social cohesion. These culinary traditions reflect broader cosmological beliefs rooted in agricultural cycles, yin-yang theory, and mythological storytelling. Furthermore, the study highlights the intergenerational transmission of these customs through oral and embodied practices, while also identifying vulnerabilities posed by urbanization and cultural erosion. Implications: The findings contribute to the growing field of intangible cultural heritage studies by positioning solstice food rituals as vital forms of vernacular cosmology and community resilience. Originality and Value: This research offers an original contribution by foregrounding food as a cosmological medium—an epistemological tool that allows communities to ritualize astronomical transitions. It departs from conventional studies of solstice marked through monuments or festivals, and instead emphasizes domestic, edible rituals. By theorizing the hearth as a cosmological site, the study invites rethinking cultural astronomy through taste, tactility, and seasonal embodiment, providing new intersections between folklore, anthropology, and food studies.
Contextual Ecclesiology through Cultural Images: Spiritual and Devotional Models of the Church in Java Tedjoworo, Hadrianus
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.1408

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores the construction of contextual models of the Catholic Church in Java by correlating cultural, biblical, and theological images. It addresses a gap in ecclesiological studies where local cultural symbols—such as pamong, ziarah, and padepokan—have not been systematically incorporated into Church models, despite their strong presence in the lived faith experiences of Javanese Catholics. Methodology: The research employs a qualitative approach using a reflective-hermeneutic method. It is based on secondary sources, including theological literature, cultural studies, and pastoral reflections. Thematic and narrative analysis is used to develop ecclesiological models grounded in symbolic and imaginative representations of the Church within the Javanese cultural context. Findings: The study formulates three contextual models of the Church: (1) the cultural model, emphasizing community participation and cultural rootedness; (2) the spiritual model, reflecting a contemplative and wisdom-oriented ecclesiology; and (3) the devotional model, centered on sacramental and prayerful expressions of faith. These models reveal that Javanese Catholics experience and shape their ecclesial identity through local symbols and religious imagination rather than abstract doctrines. Implications: The findings offer a practical theological framework for enhancing catechesis, pastoral leadership, and ecclesial policy through inculturated practices. The models also serve as references for other culturally diverse Church communities, particularly in Asia and Africa, seeking to integrate faith with local spiritual traditions. Originality and Value: This study introduces the imagerial method, an original theological approach that prioritizes imagination and symbolic experience in ecclesial construction. It contributes a systematic, bottom-up ecclesiology rooted in lived cultural expressions, offering an innovative response to the limitations of dogmatic and top-down Church models.
The Intertwining of Cultural Identity and Religious Identity in Church Musical Harmony for Social Harmony in Multicultural Societies Lestari, Dewi Tika
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.1391

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to show a creative approach to uniting the diversity of cultural and religious identities in musical harmony for efforts to build social harmony between multicultural and multireligious societies. Methodology: With an art-based qualitative analysis approach, this study analyzes elements of religious, cultural, and musical identities in the traditions and songs of the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM). Findings: This study found that GPM Songs have offered a new treasure in the tradition of religious songs by creatively and harmoniously combining elements of the cultural identity of the Maluku people who embrace all different religious identities through the shared language of pela-gandong, ain ni ain, kalwedo, in musical harmony for efforts to build and maintain social harmony in multicultural and multireligious societies. Implications: The findings of this study provide a new insight that can be applied to preserving peace in multicultural societies, namely that diverse cultural and religious identities can be harmonized through musical harmonization. Originality and Value: This study contributes to the discourse of music, rituals, and tradition studies, as well as multicultural and multireligious identities, and offers a new insight into creative diplomacy by using musical harmony in church song for social harmony.
Judgment and Afterlife in Ancient Egypt: The Principle of Ma’at, Osirian Tradition, and the Comparative Context of Eternal Punishment Jock, Agai Matthew; Kingsley, Kinya Nelson
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.718

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the concept of judgment and afterlife in Ancient Egypt with particular attention to the principle of Ma’at and the Osirian tradition, while situating its findings within the comparative context of the doctrine of eternal punishment. The research aims to determine whether the Egyptian system of judgment included the notion of everlasting torment or instead emphasized cosmic balance and annihilation of the unworthy soul. Methodology: Employing a qualitative, interpretive, and historical-comparative approach, the study analyzes primary sources such as the Book of the Dead, funerary inscriptions, and mummification rituals, alongside secondary scholarship in Egyptology and comparative religion. Findings: The findings demonstrate that the Egyptian system of judgment was rooted in the weighing of the heart against the feather of Ma’at, the practice of negative confession, and the tribunal presided over by Osiris and forty-two judges. Punishment was most often conceived as annihilation rather than eternal suffering, and the afterlife was envisioned as a regenerative cosmology tied to the Nile’s agrarian cycles. These results distinguish the Egyptian view fundamentally from the Christian doctrine of hell. The study further highlights the dual function of judgment: as a religious mechanism to ensure cosmic harmony and as a socio-political instrument reinforcing royal legitimacy and social hierarchy. Implications: The implications of this research extend to comparative religious studies, curricular development, and interfaith dialogue, demonstrating that doctrines of eternal hell are historically contingent constructions rather than universal inheritances. Originality and Value: The originality of this study lies in its reinterpretation of Ancient Egyptian eschatology as an autonomous system, independent from post-biblical theological frameworks, thereby offering a new comparative lens to clarify the origins of eschatological doctrines across traditions.
Cultural Appropriation and Ritual Negotiation: Salafi and HTI Strategies in Minangkabau, Indonesia Zakirman, Zakirman; Mahmudi, Elva; Bary, Shafwatul
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.1493

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores the cultural and spiritual appropriation strategies employed by transnational Islamic movements, specifically Salafi and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), in their expansion and dissemination of religious teachings in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The research focuses on how these groups utilize local cultural identities, values, and symbols to embed themselves within the social and religious landscape of the region. Methodology: Using a qualitative, descriptive-analytical approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, content analysis, and literature review from books, websites, and academic studies. West Sumatra was chosen as the case study due to its historical openness to Islamic teachings and its recent ranking as one of the least religiously moderate provinces in Indonesia. Findings: The findings revealed that transnational Islamic groups successfully appropriate local cultural elements to minimize resistance and enhance acceptance, mirroring the historical spread of Islam in the region. These groups utilize various vehicles, including educational institutions, traditional and digital media, and religious gatherings, to advance their ideological missions. Implications: This study expands the application of cultural appropriation theory by examining how transnational religious ideologies adapt symbolically to local cultures. The findings are also practically relevant for policymakers and communities in formulating religious moderation strategies and detecting ideological infiltration through cultural channels. Originality and Value: Its originality lies in its regional focus and its interdisciplinary analysis of religious expansion through the lens of cultural adaptation, providing a nuanced understanding of contemporary Islamic movements in Indonesia.
Women’s Ritual Art and Intergenerational Knowledge: A Visual Ethnography of Jhuti Practices in Bhadrak District, Odisha Panda, Taranisen; Mishra, Nirlipta; Ray, Asima; Rahimuddin, Shaik; Pradhan, Bikram; Mohanty, Raj Ballav
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.735

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to document and analyze the contemporary practice of Jhuti, a women-led ritual art in Bhadrak District, Odisha, by examining its visual motifs, ritual functions, intergenerational transmission, and emerging generational shifts. The research investigates how Jhuti operates as a gendered knowledge system that integrates cosmological symbolism, ecological values, and domestic ritual authority. Methodology: The study employs a two-year visual ethnography (2021–2023) combining participant observation, semi-structured interviews with 97 women practitioners, and photographic documentation across seven administrative blocks. Data were analyzed using thematic coding, motif cataloguing, and cross-generational comparison to identify patterns in ritual participation, material use, symbolic repertoire, and transmission modes. Findings: The research documents twenty-eight distinct Jhuti motifs and reveals a structured symbolic repertoire dominated by Lakshmi paduka (95%), lotus (79%), and conch (71%). Ritual participation remains high during major festivals, particularly Manabasa Gurubara (98%). Jhuti knowledge is transmitted primarily through matrilineal teaching (74%), though reliance on observational learning increases among younger women. Significant generational differences emerge: older women emphasize communal-religious meanings and traditional mud-floor contexts, while younger practitioners favor individual-artistic framings, cement/tile surfaces, and digital modes of learning. The ethnographic vignette demonstrates that embodied, tactile correction remains central to skill transmission and cannot be replaced by digital replication. Implications: The findings highlight urgent needs for heritage preservation strategies that support embodied knowledge transmission, address material-infrastructural constraints in urban settings, and integrate Jhuti into educational and community spaces without detaching it from its ritual cosmology. The study provides evidence to inform policy interventions aligned with UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage framework, emphasizing sustaining living practices rather than aestheticizing them. Originality and Value: This study offers the first systematic visual ethnography of Jhuti in Bhadrak District, providing an empirically grounded motif catalogue, cross-generational analysis, and detailed documentation of embodied teaching practices. By demonstrating Jhuti’s function as a gendered knowledge system situated at the intersection of devotion, ecology, and domestic authority, the research contributes new conceptual and empirical insights to the fields of ritual studies, women’s art traditions, and intangible heritage preservation.
Negotiating Ritual Authority and Non-Binary Leadership: The Bissu of Bugis Society in Contemporary Religious and Cultural Landscapes Mahyuddin, Mahyuddin; Aminah, Sitti; Nurkidam, A.; Jalil, Abdul
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.1474

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine how the Bissu, as non-binary ritual leaders in Bugis society, sustain their identity and ritual authority amid shifting religious, cultural, and political landscapes. Method: The research adopts a qualitative approach using a phenomenological orientation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with Bissu practitioners, community members, and government representatives, complemented by participant observation of rituals and cultural performances in Segeri, Pangkajene and Kepulauan (Pangkep), South Sulawesi. Data analysis was conducted through thematic and narrative techniques to identify recurring patterns related to lived experiences, adaptation strategies, and transformations of ritual authority. Findings: The findings reveal three main patterns. First, the Bissu experience a weakening of social recognition accompanied by stigma and economic vulnerability, despite their continued visibility in cultural events. Second, they actively employ religious and cultural adaptation strategies, integrating Islamic practices such as prayer, Barzanji recitation, and pilgrimage alongside traditional rituals. Third, Bissu ritual authority is being redefined from sacred, community-based leadership toward more symbolic and institutionally mediated roles, particularly through government-sponsored cultural and heritage programmes. Implications These findings contribute to debates on non-binary indigenous leadership by demonstrating that ritual authority is shaped not only by cosmology but also by institutional and political arenas where recognition is negotiated. Practically, the study suggests that cultural and local government policies should move beyond event-based recognition toward more sustainable support that enables the Bissu to maintain ritual roles within their communities. Originality: This study offers an original, voice-driven account grounded in Bissu narratives and direct observation, moving beyond symbolic or historical analyses. It introduces a two-level model of adaptation and conceptualises ritual authority as a dynamic process of contemporary negotiation rather than a fixed traditional status.
Intercultural Communication Patterns in Bugis–Lauje Marriages: Negotiating Identity and Harmony in Rural Central Sulawesi, Indonesia Kaddi, Sitti Murni; Fadhliah, Fadhliah; Badollahi, Muh. Zainuddin; Utama, Roman Rezki
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025)
Publisher : UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.15575/jcrt.1480

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the intercultural communication patterns between Bugis–Lauje couples in Tinombo, Central Sulawesi. The research aims to understand how these couples navigate linguistic, emotional, and cultural differences in their daily lives, and how traditional rituals and family mediators serve as bridges of meaning to maintain marital harmony. Methodology: The research employs a qualitative case study approach with six purposively selected informants, including two interethnic couples, two family members, and two traditional leaders. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, focus group discussions, and document analysis, then analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model with triangulation and member checking to ensure validity. Findings: The findings show that Bugis–Lauje couples achieve intercultural harmony through continuous negotiation and adaptation. Indonesian functions as a neutral lingua franca in household communication, while Bugis and Lauje languages are used in rituals to maintain cultural identity. Couples adopt adaptive strategies such as humor, patience, code-switching, and family mediation to transform potential misunderstandings into mutual understanding. Rituals like mappacci (Bugis) and modutu (Lauje) serve as symbolic spaces of cultural dialogue, reinforcing kinship ties and social cohesion. Implications: The study makes significant contributions both theoretically and practically. Theoretically, it extends Kim’s Stress–Adaptation–Growth model, Giles’s Communication Accommodation Theory, and Ting-Toomey’s Face-Negotiation Theory within the Indonesian intercultural context. Practically, it proposes policy recommendations such as pre-marital intercultural communication modules at KUA, handbooks for family mediators, and bilingual ritual literacy programs to enhance cross-ethnic understanding in rural communities. Originality and Value: This research makes a novel contribution by focusing on the domestic sphere of intercultural communication in rural Central Sulawesi—an area that has been rarely examined in prior studies. It introduces the concept of a hybrid communication model that merges linguistic, cultural, and emotional elements, illustrating how multiethnic families act as agents of social cohesion in Indonesia’s multicultural landscape.

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