An Exploration of Local Wisdom: Rites of Passage in Malay Culture in Riau and Palembang

Abstract

The development of rites of passage in the Malay Culture in Riau and Palembang Indonesian has decreased in implementation stemming from the pros and cons of its importance. Exploration of local wisdom includes; Human interaction with supernatural, Oriented to moral strengthening, Fostering suggestions in religious, social, and economic aspects, Strengthening existence as a human being, Internalisation of Islamic values in culture, and there is a process of socialisation and enculturation. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the rites of passage in Riau and Palembang by exploring the values of local wisdom. The rite of passage is considered sacred and if it is not celebrated, it is feared that disaster will occur. The implementation of the Transitional Ritual is packed with Islamic nuances. This research uses a qualitative literature method with data sources from observations, interviews and literature reviews in Riau and Palembang. Through the qualitative method, it is known that the Ritual of Transition is a phase of human life journey. The transition from one phase to the next is celebrated with religious rituals and then becomes the tradition of the Malay people in Riau and Palembang. The transition phase with rituals is local wisdom as an implementation of the substance of religion with culture without any conflict and the real reality of the face of Malay Islam. Two Malay communities that interact local wisdom in birth, marriage and death, in reality as a form of prayer and thanksgiving to the Almighty. The journey of human life is a transition from one phase to the next celebrated with religious rituals and considered sacred.