Prigen: Sedekah Bumi and the Tomb of Mbah Andan Bumi

Prigen offers two distinct cultural points of interest: Sedekah Bumi and the Tomb of Mbah Andan Bumi. During the festival in Kelurahan Prigen, the procession, food, and performances take center stage; at the Islamic cemetery, the focus is on a specific grave.

Sedekah Bumi: Procession and Community Celebration

At the celebration on June 9, 2024, a procession showcased local produce: fruit, vegetables, various cakes, market pastries, and snacks were arranged into giant Ancak. A total of 46 of these large structures were carried through the village. At the village square, people gathered around them to pray, and they were then emptied. Participants could compete for the contents and take food home. Thus, the presentation of the food was followed by communal prayer and the opportunity to take some of it home.

Some of the decorated Ancak featured replicas of domestic and wild animals. The procession also included Kesenian terbangan, bantengan, and barongsai performances. These details relate to the 2024 celebration; the animal motifs appeared on some, not all, of the Ancak. Together with the local produce and the various performances, they give a concrete picture of this festival procession.

The 2018 Celebration: Sharing and Performances

In 2018, too, hundreds of community members took part in a carnival. In this context, Sedekah Bumi also represented solidarity: food was given to others. Alongside the procession motifs of 2024, this highlights another aspect of the festival—sharing food as a communal act.

After the contents of the Ancak had been shared, Tayuban, a dance performed with a Sinden, continued until the afternoon. Ludruk performances began in the evening and lasted until morning. This sequence distinguishes the 2018 celebration from the event on June 9, 2024: for 2018, what stands out here is the succession of performances and how long they lasted.

The Tomb of Mbah Andan Bumi

The Tomb of Mbah Andan Bumi, together with his wife’s grave, is located in the Islamic cemetery of Kelurahan Prigen, west of Masjid Jami’ Al-Firdaus. People from Prigen and beyond frequently visit the gravesite. Unlike the festival activities, the focus here is on a specific place and the two graves located there.

The festival tradition and the gravesite therefore offer different cultural focal points: Sedekah Bumi brings together a procession, communal prayer, and performances; at the cemetery, a particular burial place is the focus. If you are considering Prigen as a cultural travel destination, this distinction can help you clarify your interests.

Planning a Stay in Prigen

Looking for a holiday rental in Prigen may suit a trip focused on local cultural topics. Consider whether you are mainly interested in the festival tradition or would like to include the gravesite in your plans. If you would like to experience a future Sedekah Bumi celebration, check the date before traveling: the events described here relate to 2018 and June 9, 2024. If you plan to visit the cemetery, check in advance whether visits are possible.

Discover more destinations: Kotasumenep, Sebani, Tuban, Paiton, Kediri, Genteng, Punung, Gresik.

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