INFOKU, BLORA - Regent of Blora H. Arief Rohman visited Dukuh Tanduran, Kemantren Village, Kedungtuban District, Thursday afternoon (20/7/2023).
The Regent of Blora attended the Sedulur Sikep traditional ceremony which was in the middle of restoring an ancestral grave, namely the grave of the late Simbah Soerokidin, the successor to Samin Soerosentiko's struggle.
Not only was he present, the Regent, who is fondly called Mas Arief, helped install a new headstone at the grave of the Sedulur Sikep figure who is Samin Soerosentiko's son-in-law.
The old wooden tombstone has rotted away, replaced with a new teak tombstone for the tetenger.
Previously, the Regent and his entourage also participated in brokohan rice ambeng with spices typical of the village, while having dialogue and hospitality.
The procession to restore the tomb was not only attended by senior sikep from the Blora area, but also attended by sikep from Kudus and Pati led by Gunretno. Also the Head of the Kedungtuban sub-district, the Kemantren village head, and Mbah Sari, the senior elder of Tanduran's sikep.
The Regent appreciates the harmony of sedulur sikep from various districts who are still humble. Caring for togetherness to retrace and restore the graves of their ancestors in Blora.
"We really appreciate and support efforts to preserve the Sedulur Sikep culture in Blora," he said.
This includes the replacement of the headstone or the pathok covering Mbah Soerokidin's grave at Tanduran, which was attended by many young elders.
"This indicates that Sedulur Sikep still does not forget their ancestors," he said.
The district head admitted that this was the first time he had visited the ancestral graves of Sedulur Sikep in Tanduran. It turned out that Soerokidin was the son-in-law of Samin Soerosentiko, the originator of the Sikep teachings whose adherents, hereinafter referred to as Sedulur Sikep, are spread across Blora, Bojonegoro, Rembang, Pati, to Kudus.
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Usually when we go to Tanduran we visit Mbah Sari's residence, the elders of Tanduran's sikep. This is the first time to visit Mbah Soerokidin's grave.
"Hopefully in the future this tomb can be cared for together. It will be a reminder for the next generation of Sedulur Sikeps from all regions. It will become a religious tourism attraction for Sedulur Sikep," he said.
It is known, in Blora there are four Sedulur Sikep villages. Namely the Karangpace sikep, Klopoduwur, the Blimbing Sambongrejo sikep, the Balong Sumber sikep, and the Tanduran Kemantren kin.
Gunretno, the leader of the Sedulur Sikep group from Kudus and Pati, said he was happy and grateful to the Blora Regent for agreeing to be there to support the replacement of his ancestral headstones.
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"Earlier, at half past 6 in the morning, we traveled from home to Blora. It turns out that the Regent's blessing has arrived here. Thank you, the Regent, who has supported and assisted our activities. This is a form of our respect for our ancestors," he said.
Namely taking care of the tomb, replacing weathered pathok so that it has a clear mark or sign that this is where Mbah Soerokidin's ancestors are buried.
According to Gunretno, Soerokidin is the son-in-law of Samin Soerosentiko. Those who participated were exiled by the Dutch outside Java with Samin Soerosentiko. However, in the end, he was able to return and continue to spread the teachings of Sikep in Java.
"He is the son-in-law of Mbah Samin Soerosentiko. If it is reported that Mbah Samin died in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, Mbah Soerokidin returned to Java and was buried here, Tanduran. There are still grandchildren who live with Sedulur Sikep Tanduran," he concluded. (Endah/KOM)
