Sangkurat, “Ngaju” Dayak Greatness Vest

Helloindonesia.id – Indonesia has long been known as a country that has diverse ethnic and cultural diversity. This is reflected in the diversity of life patterns of the people of Indonesia, which are represented by traditional houses, traditional regulations, traditional weapons, to traditional clothing worn. The Ngaju Dayak tribe, for example, the tribe that inhabits the Central Kalimantan region has traditional clothing known as Sangkurat.

Sangkurat is a vest-shaped outfit, made from nyamu skin or leather leaves. Lemba or known as the pinang quail tree is a type of plant that grows in clumps. This plant is usually found in humid areas that are not exposed to direct sunlight. The leaves of the ox are oblong and green, the leaves of this plant are very hard and strong. Ox leaf which is commonly used as a raw material for making vests is a leaf that is about 50-60 cm long and 15-17 cm wide. Lemba Leaf has a lot of fiber on its surface, it’s not wrong if Sangkurat can last for decades.

Lemba leaves that have been knitted into vests are then decorated in such a way by using various knick-knacks. The trinkets were taken from pangolin skin, coins, buttons, beads, to objects that were considered to have magical powers (amulets). The decoration is not without purpose, the Ngaju Dayak people believe that the decoration on Sangkurat can protect them from evil influences and other people who want to do evil.

Etymologically Sangkurat is derived from the word Sangka which means barrier or buffer. Besides being used when fighting, the Dayak Ngaju tribe also made this outfit as a great outfit that was often worn in various ceremonies, such as traditional weddings for example. The Ngaju Dayak people feel more manly by wearing a Sangkurat vest, moreover they believe that by wearing Sangkurat, they will be free from everything that can destroy themselves.

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