Local People Hope to Rekindle Traditional Ritual ‘Bersoyong’

The concept of Nusantara as a forest and green city is expected to rekindle the legacy of local knowledge and wisdom of the indigenous peoples so that they can communicate their gratitude via bersoyong.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Residents of the Paser Tribe perform the Bersoyong ritual in Sepaku Village, Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, Saturday (27/7/2022). The Bersoyong ritual is carried out in many activities of the Paser Tribe, including cleaning the village, starting farming and starting to clear the forest.

Four people sat in solemnity with two baskets full of offerings in front of them. Two came from the Paser tribe; the other two were the Balik tribe representatives.

The two tribes are known as indigenous peoples who have for generations inhabited the land, which has been designated as the starting point for the construction of Nusantara as the new capital city of Indonesia. The land, which is part of capital area, is located in Sepaku district, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan.