Abstract
The Hajat Lembur is a yearly ritual by Batu Lonceng Villagers, in West Bandung-Indonesia, following the 1956 landslide disaster that occurred in the Lembang Fault area. A series of local wisdom emerged as important messages tucked into the procession that are related to the ritual communication concept. Based on the three interrelated terms of ritual communication: communication, communion, and commonality (Couldry,2003), this research seeks to reveal the meaning of the Hajat Lembur tradition as disaster risk reduction literacy. This research uses a case study approach, conducted by participatory observation in the Hajat Lembur ritual procession in 2023; in-depth interviews with two informants, in the form of opinion leaders who play a central role in the ritual procession; and literature reviews. The results showed that in terms of communication, the Hajat Lembur tradition is interpreted as a transcendent medium about the importance of maintaining harmonisation between humans, nature, and the Creator. In terms of communion, it is a celebration of the sacred Batu Wahyu that led to an agreement to establish a sacred forest, as an area that must be preserved. In terms of commonality, this ritual is a joint expression of the Batu Lonceng Village community about the importance of protecting nature and the environment inherited by the ancestors. Although there is a need for more established local knowledge in this area, this research contributes to the future of disaster mitigation management by emphasising rationality and local wisdom in dealing with natural disasters.
Published Version
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