The Turuk Laggai ritual of the
Mentawai community is not merely a traditional dance, but a complex
performative practice that connects humans with ancestors and nature. Research
conducted by Dian Permata Sari, Zulfardi Darussalam, Afifuddin, Rasyidin, and
Haria Nanda Pratama from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISBI) Aceh and
Pamulang University in February 2026 reveals how the body of the Sikerei
(Mentawai shaman) functions as a symbolic medium within the Pabetei
ritual.
The Shifting Function
of Ritual in the Modern Era
Traditionally, Turuk Laggai has
often been viewed solely through the lens of cultural anthropology or the Arat
Sabulungan belief system. However, the development of the cultural tourism
industry has shifted the function of this ritual from a sacred practice into a
mere tourist attraction. This study addresses this gap by positioning Turuk
Laggai as a form of body dramaturgy that integrates movement, Gajeuma
music, and spiritual experience into a unified performance aesthetic.
Methodology: A
Performative Approach
The study employs a qualitative
method using a performance studies approach. Data were collected through
literature studies and audiovisual documentation related to the Pabetei
ritual practice. The researchers conducted a descriptive-interpretative
analysis of the Sikerei's bodily movement patterns, the ritual
structure, and the symbolic relationships between humans and nature embedded
within each movement.
Key Findings: The
Body as a Cultural Archive
The research
demonstrates that the Turuk Laggai ritual possesses profound performative
dimensions:
- · The Body as a Spiritual Medium: The Sikerei's body transforms from a biological body into a performative one, functioning as a medium for communication with ancestral spirits through repetitive bodily rhythms and trance states.
- · Mimesis as Ecological Knowledge: Movements imitating animals, such as monkeys and birds, are not merely imitations but representations of the Mentawai people's ecological experiences with the forest.
- · Total Performance: The ritual is a total performance that unites visual, auditory (Gajeuma music), and emotional elements within the sacred space of the uma (traditional house).
- · The Body as an Archive: The movements in Turuk Laggai store collective memory and local knowledge, which are inherited across generations through performative practices.
The Importance of
Preserving Local Knowledge
This study emphasizes that
Turuk Laggai is a crucial instrument for the social identity of the Mentawai
people. By understanding this ritual as a performative practice, the community
and policymakers are encouraged to view it not merely as a tourism commodity,
but as a cultural mechanism that maintains a harmonious relationship between
humans, spirituality, and the environment. This research contributes to the
development of ritual performance studies, which interpret the body as a space
for the production of meaning and cultural memory.
Author Profile:
- Dian Permata Sari, S.Sn., M.Sn. – Lecturer, Theatre Arts Program, Institut Seni Budaya
Indonesia Aceh; Expertise: Performance Studies and Ritual Theatre.
- Zulfardi Darussalam – Lecturer, Faculty of Indonesian Literature,
Universitas Pamulang; Expertise: Literature and Culture.
- Afifuddin, Rasyidin, Haria
Nanda Pratama – Lecturers/Practitioners,
Theatre Arts Program, Institut Seni Budaya Indonesia Aceh; Expertise:
Performing Arts and Dramaturgy.
Research Source:
Sari, D. P., Darussalam, Z., Afifuddin, Rasyidin, & Pratama, H. N. (2026). "Ritual Body Dramaturgy in Turuk Laggai in the Pabetei Ritual of the Mentawai Community". Journal of Language Development and Linguistics (JLDL), 5(1), 57-70.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jldl.v5i1.16610
URL: https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/jldl
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