Tabuik: From Ritual Diaspora to Tourism Performance in Minang Pariaman

Abstract

Tabuik evolved from Shiite Muharram celebrations in Pariaman, West Sumatra. The tabuik ceremony is still done, but is now commemorated as a cultural festival in the neighbourhood. The diaspora of tabuik performances is thought to have entered Pariaman in the 19th century by Shia Gujaratis. At first, this ceremony was done due to the beliefs of Shia followers in Pariaman, but Sunnah, Islam has converted the religious rites into a cultural ceremony. Tabuik is still practised and is a major tourist attraction. This study explored the diaspora of tabuik performance and the development of the ritual into a tourism performance of the Minang Pariaman group using qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. The outcomes of the study revealed how tabuik offerings have transitioned from a ritual to a cultural product that promotes tourism for Minang Pariaman community development.