Reproduction and Sustainability of the Ngasa Gandoang Tradition in Salem, Central Java

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-613-0_28How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Cultural Reproduction; Mountain Offering Ritualsradition; Local Traditions Identity

Abstract

This study investigates the reproduction and sustainability of the Ngasa Gandoang Tradition, a mountain-offering ritual in Salem, Central Java, that embodies the community’s spiritual connection to nature and ancestors. The research aims to uncover how this cultural practice has survived through generations despite modernization, economic transitions, and the gradual erosion of tangible heritage. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, the study examines the mechanisms of ritual reproduction, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and adaptive strategies ensuring cultural resilience. The Ngasa Gandoang ceremony unfolds through a sequence of sacred acts: cleansing the pathways to Mount Sagara, performing ritual bathing at Pancuran Lima, visiting the Tomb of Batara Guru, preparing communal offerings, and concluding with shared prayer and symbolic meals of kejong jagong (corn rice). Each stage functions as both spiritual purification and social renewal, reaffirming solidarity within the community. Data were gathered through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation involving thirty-two key informants, including kuncen (ritual custodians), elders, youth, migrants, and local religious leaders. Findings reveal that the sustainability of Ngasa Gandoang rests upon three interrelated pillars: (1) continuity of traditional knowledge safeguarded by the kuncen, (2) communal solidarity expressed through intergenerational participation, and (3) adaptive flexibility that allows ritual forms to evolve without compromising sacred meaning. The study argues that the endurance of local traditions depends not on static preservation, but on a living process of cultural reinterpretation. Consequently, Ngasa Gandoang continues to serve as the spiritual, social, and ecological foundation of the Salem community, symbolizing the dynamic resilience of Indonesian indigenous heritage.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Ninawati Syahrul
AU  - Sastri Sunarti
AU  - Priscila Fitriasih Limbong
AU  - Syahrial
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/04
TI  - Reproduction and Sustainability of the Ngasa Gandoang Tradition in Salem, Central Java
BT  - Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Linguistics and Cultural Studies (ICLC-6 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 336
EP  - 352
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-613-0_28
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-613-0_28
ID  - Syahrul2026
ER  -