The
Tabot Festival is held every year in Bengkulu, usually from 1-10 Muharram
in the Islamic calendar. It is a Shi'i ritual of mourning for Hasan
and Hussin bin Ali bin Abi Thalib, grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad
through his daughter Fatimah Az-Zahroh binti Muhammad. Hasan and Hussin
were killed in the Battle of Karbala (now in Iraq) on 10 Muharram in
the year 61 Hijriah (681 CE).
Originally, this ritual was a religious duty of the Bengali descendants in Bengkulu, fulfilling the mandate of their elders to remember and cherish the ahlul-bait- the descendants of the Prophet –and especially Hasan and Hussin bin Ali bin Abi Thalib.
The word Tabot comes from Arabic and literally means wooden box or coffin. In the Qur'an, it refers to the coffin containing the text of the Torah – the Ark of the Covenant. In the belief of the Bani Israil (the ancient Jews), any time the Torah appeared, ithad to be in the hands of their leaders, and if it were lost, this would bring disaster.
The essence of the Tabot ritual is remembrance of the Shi'is' struggle to gather Hasan and Hussin mortal remains from the battlefield, carry them in procession, and bury them on the Plain of Karbala. The tradition was brought to Bengkulu by the Bengali workmen, imported from southern India, who built Fort Marlborough when ‘Bencoolen' was in British hands. They passed the ritual on to their descendants, who gradually assimilated with the native people of Bengkulu.
As the ritual has persisted for centuries, it is no longer seen as exclusively a tradition of the Sipai (descendants of the Bengalis), but has now become an integral part of the local Bengkulu Malay culture. Nowadays, Tabot is celebrated not only in remembrance of Hasan and Hussin; it is also an important aspect of the government's efforts to foster and develop local culture and tourism in Bengkulu.
The provincial government has packed the ritual into a Tabot Festival, featuring a range of events that provide attractions for tourists and recreation for local residents. It consists of a series of sacred processions over a period of then days, in which colourful and ornately decorated Tabot are carried. In the evenings, the Tabot are set down for display in the town square, Lapangan Merdeka, where they are adorned with glittering lanterns that enhance their intricate designs.
Also not to be missed is the Dol, an attraction comprising lively massive drumming on traditional instruments. Teams of dozens of drummers compete in various drumming styles; it's quite reminiscent of Japanese Taiko drumming. Tight synchronization, skill and teamwork produce stunning results.
The festival ends with the final procession, Tabot Tebuang. The Tabot are displayed together one last time, and then ritually thrown into a series of sacred places.
