Tabuik: The Myth and Ontological Culture of Husein Ibn Ali’s Death in Aesthetical Packaging in Pariaman Minangkabau-Indonesia

Abstract

This aim of this paper is to investigate the subject of tabuik: the myth and ontological culture of Husein ibn Ali’s death in aesthetical packaging in Pariaman, Minangkabau. In the Pariaman community, the tabuik tradition is celebrated annually to commemorate the tragic death of Husein ibn Ali who was killed by the army of Yazid bin Umaiyah on the battlefield at Karbala, Iraq onthe 10^th day ofthe Muslim month Muharam. This historicalevent, which is “encased” in myth, is packaged in an aesthetical form. This is a study ofa process that occurs between the subject, the object, and the values, with the parameters of ‘attractiveness’ and ‘unattractiveness’. One of the most important elements in the tabuik ritual is the gandang tasa, a musical percussion ensemble, which plays an important role in arousing the passion of the supporters of the tabuik ritual, and helps create a sad or “heated” atmosphere that may spark conflict and lead to fighting between the tabuik supporters. A qualitative method is used, relying on the researcher as the instrument for collecting data through three stages of observation, documentation, and interviewing. The data analysis is based on a phenomenological approach in order to obtain a comprehensive picture about the phenomena of the research topic. The research concludes that tabuik in the Pariaman community is understood to be a religious symbol – history combined with myth – which represents the tragic death of Husein ibn Ali on the battlefield at Karbala at the hands of Yazid bin Umaiyah’s army.