By: Ari Wibowo, Community Organizer in West Kutai, East Kalimantan, WWF-Indonesia

Editor: Arum Kinasih, WWF HoB Communication Assistant

This is a story about the Dayak people's respect for the earth and nature. About people who believe that the blessing of ancestors is a virtue for fertile land. Dances of offering to the earth and rituals of supplication to the Almighty so that their agricultural products are given abundant results are one way to express gratitude. The tradition is commonly known as Hudoq.

Hudoq is the embodiment of the spirit/god Hunyang Tenangan, the rice-keeping god sent by the ruler of Apo Lagaan (Khayangan) named Ine Aya'. The arrival of the divine spirits to earth is to answer the prayers of humans who are doing Menugal, a process of notifying the ancestors and gods in heaven that the Dayak tribe will plant rice, corn and sugar cane in their fields. To expect blessings from the Gods, it is not enough just to Menugal, the Mahakam Ulu Dayak tribe will prepare the Hudoq dance which is a hereditary legacy in their family.

Now, once a year, the Dayak Mahakam Ulu who live in Long Lunuk Village, Long Pahangai District, a village located deep in the interior of The Heart of Borneo in East Kalimantan hold the Hudoq Pekayang Festival which must be attended by 11 villages there. Hudoq Pekayang is a gratitude ceremony for the single planting month. Hudoq means mask, Pekayang means visiting each other.

Usually each house has a Hudoq mask to welcome the people's party. This Hudoq mask made of Jelutung wood will be inserted with fresh banana leaves to strengthen the impression of a god who blesses life.

According to myth, this Hudoq mask is the creation of a spirit outside of humans, in the local language called Tok Jeliwan Tok Hudoq. Jeliwan means cobra, tok means spirit and Hudoq means mask. The mask itself takes various forms, but most Hudoq masks will resemble the shape of a bird.

Because these spirits are great and glorified creatures with various forms of their original form, to prevent humans on earth from being surprised when they see the form of these spirits, the Hudoq dancers who act as gatekeepers between Khayangan and Earth make masks for these spirits to wear when meeting with earth people.

The Mahakam Ulu Dayak Tribe believes that these spirits come from the water, the end of the sky, the end of the earth, underground, and some come from the land of khayangan. The types of goodness they bring are various, some bring rice spirits so that rice grows healthily and abundantly, some bring game animal spirits so that humans can easily hunt them, some bring fish spirits so that they are abundant, some bring fruit plant spirits so that they can bear a lot of fruit, some bring property spirits, health spirits, and others.

On October 14-16, 2018, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government will hold the Hudoq Pekayang Festival in Long Lunuk Village, Long Pahangai District, Mahakam Ulu Regency, East Kalimantan. At this year's festival, it is estimated that there will be approximately 400 Hudoq dancers participating in enlivening the festival. The Hudoq Festival in Long Lunuk Village is managed independently by the community there who are still steadfast in maintaining their traditional culture and spirituality.

In addition, there will also be a Cross Border Hudoq Festival in Mahakam Ulu Regency, East Kalimantan Province, which will be centered in Ujoh Bilang Village, Long Bagun District, Mahakam Ulu Regency, East Kalimantan on October 23-27, 2018 with various series of activities, such as art performances, paddle races, and a number of traditional competitions.