Unesa.ac.id, SURABAYA—Dewi Fatma Wati, Bachelor of Psychology student, The Faculty of Education (FIP), Surabaya State University (UNESA), is one of the delegates taking part in the 2023 Spice Route Cultural Goodwill Voyage. The woman who is familiarly called Dewi is one of 20 Indonesian delegates who come from various elements known as Laskar Rempah .
The activity, which was organized by the Directorate General of Culture through the Directorate of Development and Utilization of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology at the end of last year, provided many valuable experiences for the participants.
Activity which aims to develop and utilize cultural heritage as well as objects of cultural advancement that follow the narrative of Spice Route connectivity which is very beneficial for Dewi.
Dewi said that this voyage involved the legendary ship KRI Dewaruci on the Surabaya route to Selayar Island in South Sulawesi . When the ship docks, the participants are invited to participate in various activities such as the Cultural Festival in Selayar which includes performances, seminars, workshops, and cultural event competitions, and so on.
"From "Here you can get new insights, especially on Selayar Island, which apparently used to be a stopping place for ships and has many relics, such as the largest nekara gong in the world which functions as a war drum and a tool for the king's inauguration ceremony, asking for rain and other rituals," he explained.
One of the unforgettable moments while sailing was when the KRI Dewaruci crossed the equator, which was accompanied by a special ritual, namely "equatorial bathing" or "holy bathing". When the ship crossed this line, all the crew and passengers gathered on deck H.
Dewi with the participants of the 2023 Spice Route Cultural Goodwill Voyage and the crew of the KRI Dewaruci-TNI AL ship
Dark atmosphere filled with excitement created a magical impression when the crew, as if they were pirates, splashed sea water on each other. This ritual is a moment of reminder of the family at home, because each person is called one by one to be doused with flower water by the KRI commander.
"During this holy bath, the ship's crew acted as the gods and goddesses of Neptune aboard the KRI and the participants seemed to be its hostages. This is also a symbolic embodiment of the saying where the earth is stepped on, there the sky is upheld, which has meaning in respecting traditions and customs that exist in the environment where someone lives or visits," he explained.
This reflects an attitude of mutual respect and acceptance of cultural diversity and strengthens awareness of local values that are rich in traditions and cultural heritage. Apart from the distance from land and the availability of signals, the feeling of kinship was felt with mutual complementarity.
The event ended with a warm ginger drink to refresh the atmosphere in the evening, adding to the impression of warmth and togetherness on board, making the experience so special and unforgettable.
Apart from aiming to promote maritime culture and the history of spices in the archipelago, Dewi said this activity supports efforts to have the spice route recognized as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. There are various focuses on aspects of the spice route which include cultural arts, crafts and literature, culinary, potions/medicines, and history.
Dewi explained that the spice route was not only a place for exchanging spices, but it also provides an avenue for cultural exchange. With its interconnectedness, the Spice Route has the potential to become the world's maritime axis.
By retracing historical traces and reviving existing cultural heritage, he learned that the Spice Route is not only a legacy of the past, but also is the foundation for a better future for us all. []
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Reporter: Mohammad Dian Purnama (FMIPA)
Editor: @zam*
Photo: Dewi Documentation
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