Gendhing Dhanyangan as Cultural Preservation for Relation with Nature and The Ancestor

Character Building Development Center, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia 11480

^* Corresponding author: dika.sri@binus.ac.id

Abstract

Gendhing Dhanyangan is a tradition in various Java regions, one of which is in Selokerto, Malang Regency. This tradition is inherited and continues to be carried out to respect the current community’s relationship with their ancestors and nature. Dhanyang, or ancestors, symbolizes the community’s bond with the forces of nature. This tradition preserves the relationship between humans and the existence of nature and ancestors believed to be empowered by God to create life today. This study used a method, namely interviews involving the experiences, knowledge, and beliefs of traditional actors, and the data analysis used was a qualitative phenomenological method involving two aspects, the meaning of the actor and holistic narrative. This research found the value of preserving cultural values through community activities in the form of Gendhing Dhanyangan. This cultural activity can inherit people’s knowledge about the importance of culture based on the existence of ancestors and nature.