Antara News · সাধারণ

Hudoq tradition preserves culture and nature in East Kalimantan

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Mahulu, Kaltim (ANTARA) - Titit Lestari, Head of the East Kalimantan Cultural Preservation Office, said the Hudoq tradition is an integral part of life, preserving cultural heritage while helping protect nature.

"Furthermore, Hudoq was officially designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia in 2013 by the then-Ministry of Education and Culture," Lestari said in Mahakam Ulu on Wednesday.

She made the statement after observing the Hudoq Pekayang Festival in Long Pahangai II Village, Long Pahangai Subdistrict, Mahakam Ulu, which took place over three days (October 20–22).

"Hudoq is not just a dance; it is a living tradition. I offer my highest appreciation to the community of Long Pahangai for continuing to preserve this practice as part of their agricultural traditions," Lestari said.

She explained that the profound significance of the Hudoq tradition is closely linked to the community's food security.

Hudoq is performed to coincide with the rice-planting season, serving as a prayer for an abundant harvest, Lestari added.

“This is the primary reason why preserving this tradition is so vital. It is an essential part of the community’s life cycle and helps ensure food availability,” she said.

The East Kalimantan Cultural Preservation Office fully supports efforts to preserve the tradition. Lestari expressed hope that preservation efforts would extend beyond the festival itself, with the tradition continuing to be passed down from older generations to younger people.

“We hope that this tradition does not appear only during the festival, but continues to be passed down,” she said.

“Hopefully, this annual event will ensure that Hudoq remains a living part of the community, both in Long Pahangai specifically and in Mahakam Ulu as a whole,” she added.

Lestari also emphasized that every element of the Hudoq tradition helps preserve local knowledge, including knowledge of how to use resources from the surrounding environment.

This is evident in traditional foods served during the festivities, which incorporate plant materials from the forest. Certain leaves, for example, are used to wrap food during ritual processions.

The ethnobotanical knowledge embedded in these practices demonstrates how preserving Hudoq can go hand in hand with conserving nature and protecting the surrounding environment.

“Hudoq shows how a community safeguards not only its traditions but also its harmony with the natural world. Hopefully, this will help protect both cultural heritage and the natural environment in Mahulu,” Lestari said.

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