'Nyekar' Tradition

 

 

I took this picture when I visited my family's tomb to do "Nyekar" tradition which commonly spreads various of flowers on the top of the tomb. 

'Nyekar' tradition arose because of acculturation between Hindu-Javanese Islam, which in Javanese belief, the spirit is immortal and always "come home" to meet with the families on a monthly basis "Ruwah" (the Islamic calendar is called Sha'ban), Ruwah derived from the word "Souls "plural form of" spirit "which means spirit. Thus, according to this belief  Ruwah is a momentum for mutual-greet exchanged between those who have died with those who are still alive.

Hinduism also has a typical greeting with ancestor spirits with a variety of offerings, one of which is a flower (Java: sekar).

Than,  in Islam, grave pilgrimage is a very positive thing to do as a means of remembering the death. In terms of ritual "nyekar" tradition is very positive thing because in addition as a vehicle for strengthening rope salaturrahmi "cross-country" is also a means of reinforcing faith in life after world.
Tradition "nyekar" (first performed at the end of Sha'ban, Ramadan) also serves as a reminder  cultural that we must be prepared to enter a month full of blessings, mercy, and forgiveness. To achieve all this we need the name of the self-cleaning (tazkiyatun nafs), such as multiply istighfar, reading holy verses, apologized to relatives both living and dead, as well as apologized to the family, and step such as embodied in a ritual called "nyekar".
Similarly, conducted at the end of Ramadan (the face of Shawwal), as if to remind that sublime month soon leave us, so we retain a blessing, mercy and forgiveness, God willing we have achieved in Ramadan while maintaining the "sanctity" yourself towards nature, not forgetting istighfar, do not neglect reading holy verses, still remember and pray for those who have returned to Him.