HUSNAH

Intermediate 4
Friday, 1-5 pm

Tendak Siten Ceremony,

Central Java

Tedak means to step foot; Siten from Siti means soil, earth. Tedak Siten means to step foot on
earth. This ritual depicts someone readiness to face a successful life in the future, with the God’s
blessings, with the guidance from the parent, since her/his childhood. This traditional ceremony
is performed, when a child, a girl or a boy is at the age of 7 selapan: 245 days (Selapan is 35 days).
Usually, the happy occasion should be organized in the morning, in the front yard of the house.
Except the parents and the family, some elderly people also present to give blessing to the child.
When the big day comes and after all preparation has been done, the family and invitees gather in
the place of ceremony. First, the kid is guided to walk on 7 different color of delicacy (red, white,
orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet) made from glutinous rice. Next, the kid is guided to step
on a ladder made of "Arjuna" sugar cane and then step down. Then. stepping down from the ladder,
the kid is guided two walk on a pile of sand. he should Ceker-Ceker (to play the sands with both
feet). And then, the kid is guided to enter a decorated cock’s cage. Inside the cage, there are several
items, such as writing-books, jeweleries, golden accessories- ring, necklace, bracelet, rice, cotton
and other useful items. In the meantime, the father and the grandfather spread over udik-udik (coin
and flowers). At the end, the kid is dressed neatly with beautiful and new dresses.