Maras Taun facts for kids
Maras Taun is a special thanksgiving festival and harvest festival celebrated by the Malay people on Belitung Island in Indonesia. It's also celebrated on the smaller islands nearby. The name Maras Taun comes from the local Belitung Malay language. Maras means "cutting," and taun means "year." So, it's like "cutting of the year" or "end of the year harvest." This festival happens once a year after farmers have harvested their rice from dry fields, which they call padi ladang.
Why Maras Taun is Important
For the people living on Mendanau island, rice is a super important food. Trading rice even connects people from different islands! This festival is celebrated by both farmers and fishermen. Farmers celebrate their successful rice harvest. Fishermen celebrate their good catches of fish. It's a way for everyone to say thank you for the food they get from the land and the sea.
How the Festival Begins
The Maras Taun festival starts with a lively farmer dance. People sing a special Maras Taun song together while they dance. After the dance finishes, a village chief, who is also a Muslim leader, comes forward. He leads everyone in a prayer.
Special Rituals
During the prayer, the chief burns a piece of agarwood. This wood creates a beautiful, fragrant smell. Then, he blesses two special leaves called daun hati-hati or daun kesalan. These leaves are a type of medicinal mint, also known as Asian oregano. After they are blessed, these sacred leaves are given to the people. Islanders believe that spreading these leaves around their homes and boats brings good luck.
What is Lepat?
Before the harvest festival begins, people get together to prepare a special food called lepat. Lepat is a type of steamed cake made from red rice. It's often filled with a piece of fish or meat. The cake is wrapped carefully in young coconut leaves before it's steamed. Hundreds of these delicious lepats are made and then shared with everyone in the village at the end of the festival. It's a tasty way to celebrate the harvest and community!
