POSBELITUNG.CO , BELITUNG - Let's enjoy Belitung! Belitung has a traditional art attraction called beripat beregong.

Reporting from dispar.belitung.go.id , beripat beregong is a type of martial arts sport using rattan weapons for a pair of players.

Each player then relies on their skills to parry and hit their opponents with rattan slashes.

To be able to determine who loses and who wins, which can be determined by the number of wounds on the player's body.

However, at the end of the show, there was no feeling of resentment towards each other.

The beripat performance begins with the sounds of the beregong musical instruments being played simultaneously.

The folk art of beripat beregong is not only held for one night, sometimes it can be held for up to seven days and seven nights.

It depends on the economic conditions and interests of the organizer, because implementing this art can cost a relatively large amount of money.

Quoting kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id, this beripat beregong can usually be found during the annual Maras Taun tradition in Belitung.

The beripat beregong tradition is played in a way that is not easy, it requires a lot of preparation and also a lot of money.

Starting from safety to build a high house, about 6 to 7 meters high. This place will later be used for musicians playing musical instruments.

Raising a musical instrument to a high house cannot be done haphazardly, because it must be led by the traditional leader or the heir of the gong owner.

This tradition must also be attended by traditional leaders, separate interpreters, and recorders of the number of strokes.

Once everything is ready, then the men who want to try playing beripat beregong meet the elder to be asked where they come from.

The reason is, the men who will compete cannot come from the same village.

If the shaman has approved them to compete, then the men can go straight to the arena.

Apart from that, what is no less important to do before starting a duel is to check the rattan that will be used.

Rattan weapons will be measured in the same length, namely 80 centimeters long, with handles made of wood.

Before rubbing, use water that has been given a spell or incantation.

According to the community, the spell water has the property of preventing pain even if the blow is hard.

However, the pain will only be felt after the game is finished or when the player arrives at the house.

After the ritual of giving holy water to the rattan is complete, the two males or players can enter the playing arena accompanied by the shouts of the audience.

This game requires the men to take off their clothes, cover their heads with a piece of cloth, and wrap their left hands, so they can ward off their opponents' attacks.

Both players must also wear cloth up to their knees when competing.

The conditions that apply to this duel are that you are not allowed to attack by tricking or butting, you are not allowed to attack the head or waist down.

The blow will only be considered valid if it hits the opponent's back.

The Origin of Beripat Beregong

Beripat Beregong has a quite strong stories and narratives.

The beripat beregong tradition is thought to have emerged during the Badau Kingdom era in Mentigi Village.

In Mentigi Village, there used to be a very beautiful girl. Her beauty attracted many young people when they saw her face.

The young men then came to the girl's residence with the aim of marrying her.

However, the large number of young men who came made the girl's parents confused about choosing the right young man.

Finally, the girl's parents handed over the decision to the young men who intended to propose to their child.

The young men then decided to fight to get the beautiful girl.

In this fight, each young man brought rattan as a weapon.

Not just fighting, there are rules set regarding who wins and loses.

Beripat beregong is a type of dance performed by male dancers while showing agility using rattan accompanied by various musical instruments, such as drums, kelinang, gongs, tawak-tawak, and serunai.

The winner of this fight is the participant who takes the fewest hits.

Apart from all that, this event aims to strengthen relations between villages and foster sportsmanship.

Therefore, participants who compete cannot be from the same village.

With the existence of rivalries between villages, parties who previously did not know each other become familiar.

(Posbelitung.co/Novita)