Mappatettong Ale’, Manno Salo, and Mattu’bang Ale’: Agriculture, Rituals, and Ecological Symbols in Baringeng, Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Indonesia

Abstract

The forest, known as ale’ in the Bugis language, is integral to Bugis culture. In Lilirilau District, Soppeng Regency, Indonesia, the Baringeng community hosts a harvest thanksgiving ceremony involving forest-related rituals imbued with symbolic significance for maintaining human-nature harmony. This study elucidates the ceremony’s rituals and symbolism while documenting contemporary agricultural practices and responses to advancements. Methodologies include literature reviews, in-depth interviews, and participant observations. The study addresses: (1) the unique aspects of the Baringeng community’s harvest thanksgiving ceremony, focusing on the rituals of mappatettong alé, manno salo, and mattu’bang alé; (2) the symbolic meanings of these rituals, which honor the forest as nyawana linoe (the essence of nature) and water for its purifying properties; and (3) current agricultural conditions and community responses. The research concludes that the ceremony’s significance has waned due to societal changes and a focus on agricultural productivity, necessitating cultural interventions to preserve ecological wisdom for sustainable development.