SYMBOLIC COSMOLOGY AND CULTURAL HYBRIDITY IN JARAN KEPANG: A COMPARATIVE ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF BANYUWANGI AND MALANG, EAST JAVA

Abstract

This study investigates the symbolic dimensions and socio-cultural functions of Jaran Kepang, a trance-based traditional performance in East Java, Indonesia, through a comparative ethnographic lens focusing on Banyuwangi and Malang regencies. While often categorized as folk entertainment, Jaran Kepang embodies a complex cosmological framework rooted in Javanese spiritual syncretism and local epistemologies. Using ethnographic methods including participant observation, semi-structured interviews with 10 veteran practitioners (≥10 years of experience), and visual documentation this research analyzes ritual structures, costume symbolism, musical elements, and offering systems (peras jaranan). Findings reveal that Banyuwangi’s coastal variant reflects a unique cultural hybridity, integrating Javanese, Osing, Madurese, and Balinese influences through its color symbolism, ritual offerings, and trance aesthetics. In contrast, Malang’s inland form emphasizes physical dynamism, martial symbolism, and agrarian resilience. The study contributes to anthropological discourse on performative ritual, intangible cultural heritage, and the negotiation of identity in postcolonial Indonesia. It further argues for collaborative documentation strategies that integrate indigenous knowledge with academic rigor to safeguard canonical integrity against performative dilution among younger generations.