“MAPPADENDANG” - Harvest Party In Sidrap
contributed by the MAKES Club in Makassar

Sidrap is one of regencies in South Sulawesi. This regency is located about 300 kilometers from Makassar. Sidrap is known as one of the main paddy producers (lumbung padi) in South Sulawesi. It also has a reputation due to traditions. These traditions are based on tribe background. One of the traditions that is interesting in Sidrap regency is Mappadendang. Mappadendang is a party that is held by Sidrap people and is done by young girls after paddy harvest. It is also followed in several regencies in South Sulawesi that produce paddy. For example in Gowa regency. But this party first appeared in Sidrap regency. The biggest party is always with the Tolotang People, one of believers in Sidrap, in Buae village every year.

Before holding Mappadendang party the society must chosse a good time to have the party. Most of them sometimes must see a good day by seeing the business side of it, money, the weather, etc. Seeing a good time is one of old traditions in many regencies in South Sulawesi. This belief is always done by the people that are located in villages. They believe that by seeing a good time means that there is an influence to all the business they will do. After seeing a good time they also must prepare many things needed on the day. The preparations consist of a rice-mortar (lesung), eight pounder for rice (alu) and the important one is that the people who conduct it must be able to play the pounders for rice and dance to follow the sound such as music that produce by griding the rice-mortar with pounders. Actually the rice-mortar is a tool that is used to grind the paddy to rice before the grinding machine comes. The rice mortar is a medium for grinding the paddy by using pounders. This rice-mortar is in boat-shaped. The players of Mappadendang standing out around the rice-mortar by handling a ponder for rice each other. Girls grinding the pounders produce sounds such as music, while they make a dance with using the pounders. The players consist of eight ladies that stand out around the rice-mortar. And also it is interesting because all of the players wear a traditional dress which is called ‘Baju Bodo’.

When grinding begins all of the players know their position to each other and pounders for rice and rice-mortar will produce traditional music. It will be followed by the last player dancing or doing other activities such as rolling on the ground or jumping on the carpet. This part is the top of partying. The duration of this party depends on the people who conduct it. In Buae village the celebration is held for 3 days because it is combined with cradle of pounders to the rice-motar with big cradle.

Comment from KGRE: This is a very interesting story and I hope that all Clubs find it interesting as well. KGRE will begin to use some of these stotries on a new webpage soon called - ‘Tradional Activities in Indonesia’. Please send more - tell us about your local traditions so that we can pass them onto others to read.