religious

#1Pic1Day: Bendera Ajaib | Magical Flag (Afghanistan, 2008)

Magical Flag (Afghanistan, 2008) The Afghans celebrate Persian New Year, known as Naoruz (“New Day”), which is usually celebrated on 21 March when the sun arrives exactly on northern equinox. The center of Naoruz celebration in Afghanistan is in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, which is believed by the Afghans as the location of the mausoleum of Caliphate Ali bin Abi Thalib. On the Naoruz morning, they will raise a sacred flag known as “janda”. People would struggle hard to touch the flag as they believe the magical flag would cure any disease and bring good fortune. The celebration used to be banned under the Taliban. Bendera Ajaib (Afghanistan, 2008) Orang Afghanistan merayakan Tahun Baru Persia, yang disebut Naoruz (“Hari Baru”) dan jatuh pada 21 Maret, ketika matahari tepat berada di titik balik utara. Pusat perayaan Naoruz di Afghanistan adalah di kota Mazar-e-Sharif, di mana terdapat makam suci yang dipercaya sebagai makam Ali bin Abi Thalib. Di hari Naoruz, mereka akan mendirikan sebuah bendera suci yang disebut “janda”, dan orang-orang berebutan untuk menyentuh bendera itu karena dipercaya akan membawa mukjizat. Perayaan Naoruz pernah dilarang pada zaman Taliban. [...]

January 8, 2014 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Pemujaan Mao | Mao Worship (Tibet, 2005)

Mao Worship (Tibet, 2005) Inside house of a Tibetan family nearby Kailash, pictures of Mao Zedong are placed together with Buddhist statues and symbols at the worshipping altar. Pemujaan Mao (Tibet, 2005) Foto-foto Mao Zedong diletakkan bersama dengan patung-patung Buddha dan simbol-simbol Buddhis di altar pemujaan di sebuah rumah keluarga Tibet di dekat Kailash. [...]

November 29, 2013 // 1 Comment

#1Pic1Day: Kuil Keramat | Sacred Temple (Tibet, 2005)

Sacred Temple (Tibet, 2005) The ancient Chiu Gompa is located next to the Manasarovar Lake, the holy lake of gods. There are two giant lakes in front of the Kailash, one is Manasarovar (place of gods), and the other is Rakshastal (place of demons). Kuil Keramat (Tibet, 2005) Kuil kuno Chiu Gompa terletak di sebelah Danau Manasarovar, yang dianggap sebagai danau para dewa. Ada dua danau raksasa di hadapan Gunung Kailash, yaitu Manasarovar (tempat para dewa) dan Rakshastal (tempat para setan). [...]

November 28, 2013 // 3 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Terlahir Kembali | A New Person (Tibet, 2005)

A New Person (Tibet, 2005) Pilgrimage to Kailash is a manifestation of Buddhist journey of life. After the whole journey, everybody is not the same anymore, a new person is reborn. But physically, everything is just the same. No special title, no special costume, no change of social status… pilgrimage is personal. Terlahir Kembali (Tibet, 2005) Penziarah ke Kailash adalah manifestasi konsep Buddhisme mengenai perjalanan hidup. Setelah perjalanan panjang, setiap orang tidak akan sama lagi, dan seseorang yang baru telah terlahir kembali. Tetapi secara fisik, semuanya masih tetap sama. Tidak ada gelar khusus, pakaian khusus, ataupun perubahan status sosial… karena ziarah adalah personal. [...]

November 27, 2013 // 3 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Bukan Jalan Gampang | Not an Easy Way (Tibet, 2005)

Not an Easy Way (Tibet, 2005) Some Tibetan pilgrims take meaning of pilgrimage more seriously. Not only they have walked thousands of kilometers from their villages to the sacred mountain of Kailash, they also circumambulate the mountains by crawling, for 53 kilometer journey at 5000-ish elevation. Bukan Jalan Gampang (Tibet, 2005) Beberapa peziarah Tibet memaknai penziarahan dengan jauh lebih serius. Bukan saja mereka berjalan ribuan kilometer dari desa mereka untuk sampai ke Kailash, mereka juga mengelilingi gunung suci ini dengan merangkak, sejauh 53 kilometer sekali putaran pada ketinggian 5000-an meter. [...]

November 26, 2013 // 3 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Bendera Doa | Prayers Flag (Tibet, 2005)

Prayers Flag (Tibet, 2005) The Tibetan Buddhists believe that the higher the place, the better it is to deliver their prayers. Therefore, top of hills or mountains are always holy, and it is the place to build ritual site or to put prayers flags. In the Kailash pilgrimage, at the highest section of the trek facing directly to the sacred mountain, pilgrims and monks deliver their prayers. Bendera Doa (Tibet, 2005) Umat Buddhis Tibet percaya, semakin tinggi tempatnya maka semakin baik pula untuk menyampaikan doa. Karena itu, puncak bukit atau gunung selalu merupakan tempat suci, dan orang Tibet mendirikan tempat pemujaan dan meletakkan bendera-bendera doa di tempat itu. Dalam perjalanan ziarah Kailash, titik tertinggi dari jalur perjalanan ini berhadapan langsung dengan gunung suci, merupakan tempat para peziarah dan biksu menghaturkan doa mereka. [...]

November 25, 2013 // 0 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Wajah Utara | The North Face (Tibet, 2005)

The North Face (Tibet, 2005) The north face of the holy mountain of Kailash is among important sections of Kailash pilgrimage. Kailash is regarded the holiest mountain for four religions—so holy that nobody is allowed to touch or climb it. The pilgrimage is done by walking to circumambulate the mountain. Wajah Utara (Tibet, 2005) Menyaksikan wajah utara gunung keramat Kailash adalah salah satu bagian penting dalam perjalanan ziarah Kailash. Kailash adalah gunung paling suci bagi empat agama, saking sucinya tidak seorang pun diizinkan untuk menyentuh atau mendakinya. Perjalanan ziarah ini dilakukan dengan mengelilingi gunung suci itu. [...]

November 22, 2013 // 2 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Kematian Simbolis | Symbolic Death (Tibet, 2005)

Symbolic Death (Tibet, 2005) A part of the Kailash pilgrimage journey is a site called Shiwa Tsal, where pilgrims leave some of their possessions here, usually clothes, shoes, or hair. The ritual is a symbol of death of our old life, and being reborn with a new spiritual life. Not far from here is the sky burial site, a reminder that nothing is eternal. Kematian Simbolis (Tibet, 2005) Bagian dari perjalanan ziarah Kailash adalah sebuah tempat bernama Shiwa Tsal, di mana para peziarah meninggalkan beberapa benda yang mereka miliki, biasanya berupa pakaian, sepatu, atau rambut. Ritual ini adalah simbol dari kematian raga kita yang lama, dan dilahirkan kembali dalam kehidupan spiritual yang baru. Tidak jauh dari tempat ini adalah tempat pemakaman langit (cara pemakaman Tibet di mana mayat ditaruh begitu saja di tempat terbuka sehingga menjadi santapan burung pemangsa dan hewan), sebuah peringatan bagi kita bahwa tidak ada yang abadi dalam dunia ini. [...]

November 21, 2013 // 2 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Perhiasan | Accessories (Tibet, 2005)

Accessories (Tibet, 2005) A Tibetan woman shows her beautiful accessories. She opens a pilgrim rest house in the midway of Kailash pilgrimage path. Perhiasan (Tibet, 2005) Seorang perempuan Tibet menunjukkan perhiasannya yang cantik-cantik. Dia membuka sebuah pondok peristirahatan bagi para peziarah yang mengelilingi Kailash. [...]

November 20, 2013 // 5 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Ziarah ke Kailash | Pilgrimage to Kailash (Tibet, 2005)

Pilgrimage to Kailash (Tibet, 2005) For the Tibetan Buddhists, a pilgrimage to Kailash is among important journeys to do in life. People walk or hitchhike to the site from their villages, sometimes thousands of kilometers away. The pilgrimage ritual is going circumambulate the holy mountain, about 53 kilometer trek at 5000-ish m elevation. The Buddhists believe that you have to circumambulate it in odd numbers, means either you are supposed to do it once, or if you do twice you should do the third trek as soon as possible. Doing the pilgrimage for 108 times is believed as a journey to nirvana. Ziarah ke Kailash (Tibet, 2005) Bagi umat Buddhis Tibet, ziarah ke Kailash adalah salah satu dari perjalanan penting yang dilakukan dalam hidup. Orang berjalan atau menumpang kendaraan dari desa mereka, terkadang ribuan kilometer jauhnya. Ritual ziarah dilakukan dengan mengelilingi gunung suci ini, sebuah perjalanan berat di alam liar sejauh 53 kilometer pada ketinggian sekitar 5000 m di atas permukaan laut. Mereka menekankan perlunya mengelilingi gunung ini dalam angka ganjil. Jadi Anda hanya mengelilingi sekali, atau kalau sudah mengelilingi yang kedua kalinya harus cepat-cepat melakukan putaran ketiga. Mengelilingi Kailash sebanyak 108 kali dipercaya sebagai jalan menuju [...]

November 19, 2013 // 2 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Gunung Keramat | The Sacred Mountain (Tibet, 2005)

The Sacred Mountain (Tibet, 2005) The mountain of Kailash is the holiest site for four religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon and Jain. For the Tibetan Buddhists, Kailash is known as Kangri Rinpoche, “Precious Snow Mountain”, the center of universe. The Hindus believe Kailash is manifestation of Meru, the home of Shiva, and symbol of powerful mantra om. The Hindu concept of meru is also adapted in Indonesian culture, where some volcanos in Java and Bali are regarded holy, especially the Mahameru (Semeru, “The Perfect Meru”) which possesses respected position in Javanese Hindu cosmology. Also the stupa and mandala of Borobudur is actually another manifestation of meru, or Kailash. In Tibet, Kailash is so sacred, that nobody is allowed to touch it, no mention to climb over it. Gunung Keramat (Tibet, 2005) Gunung Kailash adalah situs paling suci bagi empat agama: Buddha, Hindu, Bon, dan Jain. Bagi umat Buddhis Tibet, Kailash dikenal sebagai Kangri Rinpoche, “Gunung Salju yang Mulia”, pusat dari alam semesta. Orang Hindu percaya Kailash adalah perwujudan dari Meru, tempat kediaman Dewa Sywa, dan simbol dari mantra suci Om. Konsep meru dalam Hindu ini diadaptasi juga dalam tradisi Indonesia, di mana sejumlah gunung berapi di Jawa dan Bali dikeramatkan, terutama [...]

November 18, 2013 // 0 Comments

1Pic1Day: Sang Pahlawan | The Hero (Iran, 2008)

The Hero (Balochestan, Iran, 2008) In majority Shiite Iran, Hossein ibn Ali—the Prophet’s grandson and Ali’s son—has special position in people’s heart. Hossein was killed in the Battle of Karbala when fighting against his enemies in the 7th century. His death is marked as the most important religious event in Iran, known as Ashora, but also nicknamed as “the Festival of Hossein”, and remembered—if not celebrated—in Iran in full swing festivities. The sacrifice of Hossein, the fighting of the virtue of the minority against the vice of the majority, somehow properly fit the image of how Iran sees itself in its journey of history. The adoring of Hossein is deep-rooted in Iranian society, fully manifested in their religious rituals, art and culture. Hossein face is never far away from the people’s life, always placed in respected locations. Sang Pahlawan (Balochestan, Iran, 2008) Di negeri Syiah Iran, cucu nabi Muhammad SAW, Hossein ibn Ali memiliki posisi yang sangat istimewa di hati masyarakat. Hossein terbunuh dalam Perang Karbala di abad ke-7. Hari kematiannya adalah even religius terpenting di Iran, dikenal sebagai Ashora, tetapi juga dijuluki sebagai “Hari Raya Hossein”. Hari kematian itu diperingati, kalau tidak bisa disebut sebagai dirayakan, dengan nuansa [...]

September 13, 2013 // 0 Comments

#1Pic1Day: Festival of Death (Iran, 2010)

Festival of Death / Festival Kematian (Mashhad, Iran, 2008) Festival of Death (Mashhad, Iran, 2008) Black is the color dominating important dates in Iran. Men-in-black parade through the boulevards. They beat their heads and chests, flagellate their backs with metal chains. Sometimes you hear weep and mourning amid busy band noise and harmonious chanting. Most of important religious events in Iran are related to martyrdom of the saints, and are commemorated in full swing. The most important event is Ashora (Martyrdom of Imam Hussain) and Arbain (40 days after the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain). In this picture is commemoration of the Demise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Martyrdom of Imam Hassan. Festival Kematian (Mashhad, Iran, 2008) Hitam adalah warna yang mendominasi hari-hari besar di Iran. Para lelaki berbaju hitam berarak menyusuri jalan. Dada dan kepala ditepuk, rantai dipukulkan ke punggung, sesekali terdengar tangis susul-menyusul di tengah dentuman suara band dan lantunan doa berirama. Di antara hari-hari besar religius di Iran, mayoritas memang berupa peringatan kematian dan diperingati secara kolosal. Yang terpenting adalah hari Ashora (peringatan kesyahidan Imam Hussain) dan Arbain (peringatan 40 hari setelah kesyahidan Imam Hussain). Dalam gambar ini adalah ritual peringatan wafatnya Rasulullah dan kesyahidan [...]

September 10, 2013 // 5 Comments

Jakarta Post Weekender (2008): Time Stands Still

http://www.thejakartapost.com/weekender/0801beyond.asp BEYOND BORDERS: Time Stands Still Sparsely populated and well hidden from the rest of the world, Wakhan Corridor is as medieval today as it was over 700 years ago when Marco Polo passed through. Agustinus Wibowo visits the region. The awkward tongue of Afghanistan, located at the northeastern tip of the country, is a 200-mile-long valley that stretches between Tajikistan and Pakistan. A strategic territory created by the once-reigning British Empire at the end of the 19th century, Wakhan Corridor was first attached to Afghan territory as a buffer zone between Britain and Russia. Though the battle for supremacy between the two giants has long ended, little seems to have changed since then. Time has been suspended for what seems like eternity. Deprived of the comforts of modern living, Afghans tend to paint rosy images of Tajikistan, where women are not required to wear the burqa and children receive the education they deserve. It’s a very different story in the nearby land of the Wakhi and Kyrgyz people, where the only rules that apply are those which enhance their survival. The corridor’s isolation from the rest of the world makes Afghan’s narrow passage – only 10 miles wide – [...]

January 25, 2008 // 2 Comments

Esfahan – Arbain

20 Safar in Islamic lunar calendar is remembered by the Shiite Muslims as Arbain. In Arabic, Arbain means 40. Arbain marks the 40th day after the death of Imam Hossain (10 Muharram, known as Ashura) in the holy war of Qarbala against Muawiyyah dynasty led by Yazid. When I was in Pakistan, I followed the Shiite’s 40 days of mourning, since Ashura (10 Muharram) until Chehlum (20 Safar). In Pakistan, Arbain is known as Chehlum, a Farsi word which means ‘the fortieth’. Interestingly in Iran, the country where Farsi is spoken, they chose to use Arabic word to name the day. Chehlum in Pakistan is a bloody procession. Young boys paraded on streets of earthquake-torn town of Muzaffarabad, while whipping themselves with sharp knives known as zanjir. Check Chehlum Gallery and Chehlum in Muzaffarabad At that time I didn’t speak Farsi and I was unaware that the Shiites in Pakistan used huge amount of terms taken from Farsi language. Interestingly when I attended the procession in Iran, they preferred to use Arabic terms. In Esfahan I experienced a very different way of commemorating Arbain, the end of the mourning period. I went to the Imam Square. Most shops were closed. [...]

March 10, 2007 // 0 Comments

Turkistan – A Journey to Turkistan

A pilgrimage to the holy land of Trkistanrkistan The holy journey to the holy land The train departed from Almaty 1 train station after I had a little incident with station police. I was just informed that taking photos in a train station was extremely prohibited. I was taking photos of the train, passengers, and security officers, and then suddenly a man called me to follow him to a special room. Here I was interrogated by the woman who was the head of the police. I explained that I was just a tourist and I was interested by the Russian train. They let me go after I deleted the photos. Many passengers of the train were students. The way going to Turkistan passes Shymkent, the important southern town bordering with Uzbekistan. Most of the passengers, compared to northbound train routes, were mostly Asians. Southern part of Kazakhstan was dominated by native Kazakh and Uzbek. The holy man The train journey was long. But as here, most passengers were Kazakh and Uzbek, comparatively they were much friendlier compared to passengers of train to Astana or Karaganda. Maybe it was also the weather which defined people characteristics. In northern cities, where the [...]

December 12, 2006 // 0 Comments

Tokmok – The Dungan

A Dungan family “Хуэйзу либянди щинфу” – Happiness Among the Dungan Hueimin Bo 26.01.2006 My first interaction with the Dungans was with its food. There is a busy, crowded, small restaurant near the Iranian embassy in Bishkek offering Dungan food. When I entered the underground room, I felt I was thrown again to China. It is Chinese, and only Chinese language, spoken among the cook and servants. The food also resembles Chinese food you eat in mainland China, with slight variation of Central Asia touch. That second I immediately decide: I want to know who the Dungans are. Tokmok is a little town 70 km east of Bishkek. This town is located nearby to Chuy River which now separates Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Tokmok is a kaleidoscope of ethnics: Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek, Russian, Uyghur, and Dungan traders stuff its busy Sunday bazaar. Tokmok is home of most Kyrgyzstan’s Dungan population. Not far from the bazaar there is a little Dungan mosque. Here, in Central Asia, as countries are split into ethnic-nation idea (e.g. Kyrgyzstan – the country of the Kyrgyz, Uzbekistan – the country of the Uzbeks, etc) even the mosques are now ethnic-based. The Dungans only go to their own [...]

November 26, 2006 // 1 Comment

Dushanbe – Lost Money (Again, Again, Again… Aaaargh…)

The beautiful Tajik money, Somoni, with picture of a Persian Sufi poet, Mir Said Ali Hamadani These last few days, I stayed in a hotel named Vakhsh Hotel. It is the cheapest choice I can find in the town, and it cost 10 $ per night in a room with four beds. Of course with such high price, I expected that the room was exclusively for me alone. I always locked the door and kept the key for myself. After staying a night in Bakhriddin’s dormitory, I went to my room in Vakhsh. I was surprised to see that there was a young man sleeping on one of the beds. I just put my small bag in the room, went shower, and then Internet to check the news from my embassy concerning my Kyrgyz visa application. I didn’t come back until evening, when I saw another man taking another bed. I just realized that this is a shared room, and I just left my luggage unattended for the whole day. I saw my small bag, and just at glance I knew someone had opened it. I suddenly realized what can be stolen: my money collection. And I was right. A [...]

October 10, 2006 // 1 Comment

Kabul – The First Day of Ramazan

Fantastic breakfast: big bread and bean soup Yesterday people were not sure yet whether the fasting month of Ramazan would start today or the day after. “We are waiting for the announcement,” said Abdullah, a driver from Bamiyan. But today, it was clear that the Ramazan started officially. It is one day earlier than in Indonesia, as Afghanistan was following the trend in the Middle East. For travellers, fasting is not obligatory. Kebab restaurants still prepared their meat and actually you still can eat anything as usual, just not in open way. The restaurant owner made the kebab indoor so that the smell would not invite people who were fasting. The Hazaras are Shiite. Abdullah said that for Shiite it was OK not to fast when travelling, but the Sunni Afghans were very strict about religion and still maintained fasting even when travelling long distance. As Ramazan started, suddenly the number of travellers dropped dramatically. Usually it was easy to collect passengers to go to Kabul from the bazaar of Bamiyan. But today I had to wait up till two hours until the car filled up. It was a 10 hour journey to Kabul, and when the car reached Maidan [...]

September 23, 2006 // 0 Comments

Band-e-Amir – A Pilgrimage

The cliff near the magical lake of Band-e-Haibat, one of the crystal blue Band-e-Amir lakes. “Bacha bazi, Khuda razi,” – a Hazara restaurant boy. Band-e-Amir is always a highlight of any visits to Afghanistan. The crystal blue lakes are simply miracle among the barren hills. The locals also believe it as a miracle. Legend says that Hazrat Ali, or Caliph Ali bin Abi Thalib, came to Bamiyan, killed a dragon and created the 6 lakes of Band-e-Amir with his magical power. Considering that the Hazara people are Shiite, the Imam Ali (or Hazrat Ali) was always the reason of all miracles. I argued with a man from Chekhcheran, that it was doubted that Hazrat Ali even had come to Bamiyan. Hazrat Ali died after some years being the fouth Caliph in Iraq, and he spent most of his time in the Middle East. The Chekhcheran man said that according to a travel writing of a Chinese adventurer (possibly a Buddhist monk) visiting Bamiyan 2000 years ago, the dragon of Bamiyan was still alive. The dragon is now believed to turn to be a hill with mineral spring, the Darya Ajdahar. You need a high degree of imagination to see that [...]

September 21, 2006 // 0 Comments

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