# Come and See Tabut Festival Tip Rating: [Not enough ratings yet] Come and See Tabut Festival

giyanto-05
# Things To Do: Tip Rating: [Not enough ratings yet]
#Come and See Tabut Festival
Bengkulu has a number of traditions which still continue in Bengkulu people life, one of the cultural assets influenced by Islam is the Tabot/Tabut (an Arabic word which means the coffin), and it is an interesting attraction to enrich your experiences particularly to observe one of Indonesian's unique tradition and culture.

Tabot or now is called Tabut festival, the highlight of the Bengkulu people cultural calendar is the colorful and interesting Islamic festival, staged nearby Fort Marborough - Bengkulu city. The festival highlights music, traditional and new creation dancing contest, Bengkulu song contest, bazaar, effigies, and many more in the Bengkulu square. At the end of the festival the effigies are carried through the streets with much merriment and traditional music, and are finally tossed to the grave of Sheik Burhanuddin.

Tabut festival is held annually from 1st to 10th of the month of Muharram (Islamic Calendar). Because the date is fixed by the Islamic lunar calendar, it moves forward 10 days each year. The next Tabut festival will be held from January 10th to 20th, 2008.

It takes place at Bengkulu square to honor and recall the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandchildren, Hassan and Hussein, at the tragic battle of Kerbala-Iraq, against Yazid people.

Tabut ceremony originated from the Iraqi Shiite, brought to Bengkulu by workers (from Madras – India) who were constructing the fort Marlborough for the British East India Company. The first Tabut ceremony in Bengkulu was carried out by Sheik Burhanuddin (also known as Imam Senggolo) was from India in 1685. Sheik Burhanuddin married the woman of Bengkulu, after he passed away the Tabut ceremony was then inherited to their children, including amongst others those who assimilated with the indigenous Bengkulu inhabitants. This ceremony has been going on for quite a long time, about 3 centuries. Because of the long period, this ceremony is considered as a traditional ceremony of the Malay tribe of Bengkulu.