Symbolic Meaning of Mantra Ujub and Kidung in Ganti Langse Traditional Ceremony as a Guide to the Life of the People of Babadan Village, Ngawi Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

The Ganti Langse traditional ceremony is a ritual involving the replacement of the langse, which covers the Palenggahan Ageng Srigati in Babadan Village, Ngawi Regency, East Java, Indonesia. During this ceremony, various mantras, specifically ujub and kidung, are used throughout the langse replacement procession and other related rituals. This article aims to elucidate the symbolic significance of the ujub and kidung mantras within the Ganti Langse traditional ceremony at Palenggahan Ageng Srigati in Babadan Village, Ngawi Regency, and their role in the lives of the local community. The data used for this analysis consisted of the ujub and kidung mantras, collected through observations, interviews, and written documents. This collected data were subsequently analyzed using Barthes' semiotic approach to unveil the symbolic meanings behind the ujub and kidung mantras. The study revealed that these mantras hold dual meanings within the Ganti Langse traditional ceremony in Alas Srigsati, distinguishing between their denotative and connotative interpretations. Both of these meanings have practical implications in the social life of the Babadan Village community.