Special Performance 'Rampak Bedug' Enlivens Takbiran Night Festival at JIS
Reported by Aldi Geri Lumban Tobing | Translated by Maria Inggita
The Jakarta Culture Agency (Disbud) is supporting the Bedug Takbiran Night festival which is held tonight at Jakarta International Stadium (JIS). This event was also enlivened by Indah Nevtari, Opick, and Pasha Ungu.
We will present the best Rampak Beduk that represents each city/regency of Jakarta along with takbir chants by guest stars during the festival
Jakarta Culture Agency Head Iwan Henry Wardhana said a total of 30 bedug (drum) were sent from all administrative cities/regency of Jakarta to collaborate on bedug attraction tonight. Those instruments were centered in the West Ramp area, JIS, from 19:30 to 22:00.
"We will present the best Rampak Bedug that represents each city/regency of Jakarta along with takbir chants by guest stars during the festival," he said, as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release, on Sunday (5/1).
Hundreds of Personnel Assigned to Secure Takbiran Night and Mass Eid Prayer at JISHe explained that Rampak Bedug is the art of beating the drum in unison to produce a rhythm that is harmonious and pleasing to the ear.
The festival presented a special group of drummers that had been trained in a disciplined way by Betawian artist Atien Kisam, to play the harmony of rhythm on 30 drums that had been prepared.
"Rampak Bedug will collaborate to form a unified movement in takbiran night festival. Hopefully, this will not only enliven the Eid celebration in Jakarta but also strengthen our friendship and unity on the victory of Eid al-fitr," he expressed.
In his review of the history of bedug, Ridwan Saidi, a humanist, said that before toa or loudspeaker, bedug had been used since surau or langgar existed. Bedug was beaten to mark the prayer time before the call to prayer.
Bedug was estimated to have existed since 10 AD, referring to the Book of Masa'il a.l on the teaching of prayer which was written by Layt Abu Nashr who died in 983 AD in Jakarta. In addition to being used as a marker of prayer times, bedug was also beaten during Eid al-Fitr and also to signify the news of death.
