SAE.

Do you know, what is the sae? There are many understandings about the sae itself but here I want to expline from culture side. Sae is a dance in Manggarai rituals, often be done when they will make a celeberation, a holy ritual, such as: congko lokap and paki jarang bolong. 

Sae often be done in front of Mbaru Gendang or Manggaraian tradisional house, on the field of the Gendang. In local mention is 'natas' bate labar.

Maybe, you want to know what is the sae? Sae is a dance but many of us who don't understand fluently the meaning of the sae. Sae is a word, sometimes be understood as a mention or an exclamation.

As a word, sae is a consist of two words, i.e sa and e. Sa be understood as a mention sa. Sa is one and that is a Kolang dialect, in midle of Manggaraian often be mentioned as a ca - in Rahong dialect. Awhile, e is an exclamation how to make the other believe to our words - or in Indonesia language is a seruan peyakinan. 

By then, sa e, sae is an exclamation that that is one or we are one, an unity. We can say: we are not different - in Manggarai, would be seen in this native expressions: nai ca yanggit tuka ca leleng; cama lewang nggerpe'ang, cama po'e nggarione . But, as a dance, sae is a form of an eviction or expulsion exclamation - seruan pengusiran, penolakan. Here, how try to chase away or drive out some of animals.

Sae is a form of exclamation expulsion especially to a dog or pig - in Manggarai language is acu. They said: Sae! Sae eee! This is an exclamation to drive out a dog or pig from them. This word can't be placed in others animals, such as: buffalos, horses, hens, chickens, and goats. If they want to drive out a hen or chicken, they will say: Sika! Sika! Sika! When they want to chase away those buffalos, horses, goats, they will say: Eeessssstttt!

As we know, in Manggarai, pig and dog are animals near with them. But, unique if a pig come near them, they will say: Sae! Sae! When they want to call back them, they will call them kuku kuku and eang eang eang. Kuku is an exclamation calling to drive in a dog, and eang to call a pig - when feed or lost.

Now, we know what is the meaning of sae! But here, sae has an exempting form. Sae could be understood as a cleaning up - to sweep clean some of dushes or sapu kebok. Of course, sae is an action to sweep out, so the dance like a girl who is cleaning the porch, living room, bathroom or town square of - natas Mbaru Gendang from rubbishes. Those trashes will be being cleaned, so the dance like a sweeper.

Sae is a holy dance not same with ndu ndu dake. Ndu ndu dake is an entertaint dance, how we to amaze those guests. Sae dance could be done when they want to make a holy ritual, like congko lokap and paki jarang bolong. And that should be done on the town square of Mbaru Gendang. Here, if the congko lokap be done by the Mbaru Tambor, sae can't be done expected when they make a congko lokap of the Mbaru Gendang itself. This is a traditional norm that be followed theirs generation. For the
Iilik compang, can be done when they want to make a ritual congko lokap by the Mbaru Tambor and Mbaru Gendang. Mbaru Gendang and Mbaru Tambor are not the same, they are different. Mbaru Gendang is not same with Mbaru Niang and Bendar. In Manggarai, Mbaru is a consist of Mbaru Gendang, Mbaru Tambor, Mbaru Niang and Mbaru Bendar. 

Congko Lokap.

Lokap is pieces some of blocks,  some trees from forest. Forest as a anak rona - or maternal line of Gendang. Why? Siri bongkok is derived from forest through a ritual that be named as a roko molas poco. Awhile, Gendang is a paternal line where they are anak wina. When the siri bongkok be sawn in forest, they will make a ritual with used a egg. After cut down the tree, they will bring to village where be named as a roko molas poco.

Piece of block is named as lokap and when they build the Mbaru Gendang, there were many pieces of those blocks. Those are being named as trashes or lokap. But, the lokap here is being focused as some pieces of the siri bongkok. Lah, sae is a dance through a holy ritual they will sweep clean those lokap. So, sae is a dance to clean all of those trashes especially some rubbishes of the siri bongkok. Here, they used a buffalo as sacrafice animal and a black pig also.

[This is a form of sae dance in Manggarai. This dance often be danced on the town square in front of Mbaru Gendang. And, this picture I had gotten when I went to Lecem village - one of tradisional house of Manggarai, sometimes ago . This is a dance, part of paki jarang bolong ritual]

Paki Jarang Bolong.

Paki jarang bolong is a purification of soul, bad or sin attitudes ritual - cleansing those dirtiness. Paki jarang bolong is a ritual to avoid from death. Usually, the ritual would be done when the nemba had closed the village prior. There were many of peoples who had died in one week. They could not be helped by a doctor or nurse when they were be being carried all in hospital. They could not be saved. Then, based on a dream of ata mata gerak, ata wae nggereng - a paranormal, be gotten an information that they must make a ritual paki jarang bolong.

The core of sae when they want to make a paki jarang bolong ritual is form a purification of sins, bad and false actions. Sae could be done there and that be carried out in front of Mbaru Gendang. Surely, after make the ritual, a holiness mercy shall come down from Heaven where they call Him as a Morin agu Ngaran, Jari agu Dedek - or Lord, God Almighty.

Here, they used a black horse as a sacrifice animal. Not only a horse but also a blind dog, black cock and others. All of those animals sacrafice are black color. Climax of the holy ritual is to kill the black horse as a metanoia symbol and purification and then the ritual name is mentioned as paki jarang bolong.

Not still perfect, will to be continued.....still need some of references and informations. I will make complete this one future....wait a sparetime.

Written by: Melky Pantur, on August, 1 th 2017.