Kampung Naga. Foto http://blog.its.ac.id/ikausfarina/files/2008/07/kampung-naga2.jpg
About three hundred stair-steps have to be passed to reach the Kampung Naga, a village located at the valley of Cikuray Mountain which is still devoted to its ancestors culture.
Through the first hundred stair-steps we could only see the wave of ebony and albasia trees, continued with the sawah view through the second hundred stair-steps. Finally, through the last hundred stair-steps, we could see the line of white cottages with black palm-fiber roof, surrounded by the green hills and Ciwulan River. That is Kampung Naga.
No one, ever, has the idea why this kampong named as “Kampung Naga” with its population of 311 people. Even if they have been connected to the modern life and could be considered as an educated society, they still devoted to their ancestors culture. The most important thing to them is to respect their ancestors (or usually called “KARUHAN”). For them, anything that not come from the KARUHAN’s taught is forbidden and will caused the calamities for them.
KARUHAN taught is an unwritten law that has to be implemented to the Kampung Naga’s way of life. Considering the location and how to built or design their homes, even how to wear in their formal ceremony and what show they should perform, could not be done as their wish. It has to be based on the KARUHAN taught.
Pattern Villages
Kampung Naga stood in the valley area of 1.5 hectares of fertile and is divided into forest, river, rice field area, and township areas. Each area has boundaries that should never be violated. Township area, for example, cannot be built on rice cultivation, and vice versa. Kampung Naga citizens believe that between the boundary regions there is a delicate creature. If the limit is violated, the delicate creatures would upset and causes disaster.
Kampong’s pattern
This township area has 111 buildings, consists of 108 houses, 1 hall (bale patemon), 1 mosque, and 1 barn. Mosque, community hall and the barn placed parallel facing the east-west direction. In front of them there is a large courtyard (the square kind) are used for traditional ceremonies. In front of the mosque there is a big kentongan, which is sounded when they want to gather the masses, telling an important time (Shubuh, Maghrib, and Isya), and inform if there is danger.
Other buildings, namely houses, should face the north-south. Because this area has a lot of termites, the house was made with the stage model, which is elevated approximately 50 cm from the ground. The wall is made of woven bamboo or wooden planks, which just left raw or painted with white chalk. In addition to color, white chalk is useful to protect the walls from termite attack. For the roof, they are made from fibers, reeds, or palm leaves.
Deserted Without Electricity
A simple life but unpretentious seems at the Kampung Naga. Since most of the Naga village community dependent on the results of their gardens and rice fields, they also spent time there. The woman, who did not join her husband into the fields, spending their days by cooking and taking care of the family. As a part of their household, the women do weaving handicraft, which are sold to tourists who visit there.
The atmosphere of quiet will seem deserted at night. There was no electricity to make them rely on information only from the kerosene lamp hanging on the wall. There was no electronic equipment, everything is done traditionally. However, in some of the existing house audio device (usually TV) is turned on using the accumulator.
Kampung Naga people’s beliefs that the spirits still steady. They looked at the holy places of residence used as such spirits (Kampung Naga community as a place that is haunted or sanget). Similarly, places like the tomb of Worship Grandmother Singaparna (ancestral village of the Dragon) and the Earth ageung (the first house built in Kampung Naga). Those places can only be approached by traditional leaders Kampung Naga society at a given time. Tourists should not to be near or take a picture.
Stay night at Kampung Naga
If you want to feel the atmosphere and life of Kampung Naga is, try to spend the night there. You could feel the shower in the bathroom half an “open” (without the roof), spend the night at home with just lit the kerosene lamp, and eat traditional foods Kampung Naga. But, of course, you must ask permission from the keyholder.
To remember, do not visit on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. Because, on that day Kampung Naga people are doing lonely rituals, and prohibitted to talk about customs and the origins of his village. |feedvillages.com|
Source: http://www.indobackpacker.com/2008/08/kampung-naga-desa-sunda-yang-masih-terjaga/
