Megibung, Tradition of Eating Together

After the ceremonies ended, several groups of people sitting cross-legged and form a circle. In the center served a mound of rice and side dishes on the tray. They eat a bite after bite of the order. Meal interspersed with light chatter. This is the culture of eating style Karangasem, Bali, called megibung.

Tradition megibung Caka beginning in 1614 (or 1692 AD), when one of the King of Karangasem, I Gusti Anglurah Ktut Karangasem, fought to conquer kingdoms in Sasak (Lombok). At times the soldiers break to eat, he makes the rules called megibung eat together. Until now, the tradition is still carried out in Karangasem megibung and Lombok, and the pride of the local community. Now, megibung often held with regard to many kinds of traditional ceremonies and religion (Hindu), such as tooth filing ceremony, otonan children, marriage, cremation, pemelaspasan, piodalan at Temple.

Megibung full of values ​​and rules are typical. In megibung, rice in large quantities placed on trays (place mat made of clay or wood) that has been coated with tamas (woven palm leaves). But now the show megibung rarely use trays, replaced by a tray or other container covered with banana leaves or rice paper. Mound of rice in a large portion placed on a tray and side dishes placed in special containers. People who eat sitting cross-legged on a regular basis and form a circle.

A serving of rice gibungan (rice and side dishes) that are enjoyed by a group called the sidelines. In earlier times the sidelines should be enjoyed by eight people. Now the sidelines can be enjoyed by fewer than eight people, like 4-7 people. When eating, each person in one broke in must follow the unwritten rules that have been agreed.

Megibung usually consists of more than one interrupted, even tens interrupted. Each is led by pepara sidelines, people you trust and pour assigned side dishes on top of a mound of rice gradually. Each one usually gets interrupted and vegetable side dishes consisting of meat pepesan, the sequence (sausage), kebabs kablet (fat), awl satay (meat content), Nyuh sate (satay coconut), tamarind sate (satay and fat content), lawar red and white, star fruit vegetable leaf, pademara, and vegetable ointment.

People who megibung must follow discipline and strict eating rules. Before you eat, the rice is taken from the tray by using the hand clenched. Then proceed to take the meat and other side dishes on a regular basis. Leftover food from the mouth should not be spilled on the tray. Should be disposed of on a small piece of banana leaf that has been provided for each person. Water for drinking is provided in jugs out of clay. For one provided between the two jars. Drinking water is done by dragging, gulped water from the tip jars so that the lips are not touching the pitcher. For practicality, jugs of water now replaced with bottled mineral water. In some places, complete megibung usually followed by drinking wine event.

Wayan Siwi, villagers Ababi, Karangasem, said during megibung should not be talking and laughing loudly, yelling, burping, sneezing, phlegm, spitting, and farting. When finished eating, one should not carelessly leave. Have to wait for someone else finish eating or interrupted. When everyone has completed or interrupted feeding, then pepara let people leave the area. Eating together is to be terminated together well.

"Rules megibung in every place in Karangasem usually varies according to village (region), kala (time), patra (condition) local. Megibung rule in Lombok and even more stringent, as first the kingdom era, "says Sivi megibung ever participated in Lombok.

Usually after the ceremony every megibung always leftovers. First, the remaining food was collected by the poor who come from areas barren and poor in Karangasem. "Now there are hardly any people who want to collect the leftovers megibung. Usually leftovers were given to neighbors for feeding hogs, "said Wayan Siwi.

Megibung filled with shared values. In megibung generally no differences in gender, caste or color chess. One member interrupted, for example, may comprise male and female, or a mixture of Brahmin class, ksatrya, wasya and sudra. Together they face the bhoga (dish) as a blessing Hyang Widhi. The value of togetherness has been proclaimed since the time I Gusti Anglurah Ktut Karangasem, and has become a tradition until now, both in Karangasem and Lombok.

"People who are not familiar with megibung or caste fanatics will be hard to follow the meal if you happen to be invited to attend these ceremonies or religion," said Wayan Siwi.

Then, what if there is a contagious person or persons considered to ngeleak (black magic) participated in a single interrupted megibung? Wayan Siwi megibung explained that the principle is the togetherness and not discriminating between people. "So people like that legitimate megibung participate. But now usually every sidelines filled by people who already know each other, "says Sivi.

Megibung tradition is not only done by people Karangasem and Lombok are Hindu. The Muslim community in Karangasem, like Kecicang, Java and Tohpati Saren, also commonly held megibung event. Certainly not pauknya dishes using pork. According Mudahar from Kecicang, megibung within the Muslim community is usually associated with weddings, circumcision, Lebaran, Maulud Prophet and events other Islamic breath. "We used to invite neighbors to join the Hindu-Balinese megibung," said Mudahar.

Megibung even to preserve the tradition, the Regent of Karangasem, I Wayan Geredeg, never held a mass megibung on December 26, 2006 in Park Sukasada, Ujung, Karangasem. Megibung mass recorded in the MURI was attended by 20,520 people from the various layers and components of the community in the region of Karangasem and hundreds of other guests.
from :Wayan Sunarta