Mass Ruwatan as a Medium for Introducing Local Cultural Values in Early Childhood Education in Kadilangu Village, Demak

Abstract

The Murwokolo Mass Ruwatan is a local cultural tradition practiced by the community of Kadilangu Village, Demak, and transmitted across generations. The tradition is conducted twice a year, before Ramadan in March and in October. Amid social change and modernization, the continuity of local traditions involves not only the preservation of ritual practices but also the transmission of cultural values to younger generations. Young children, as future members of society, need opportunities to become familiar with local culture through meaningful experiences within their social and cultural environment. This study aims to describe the implementation of the Murwokolo Mass Ruwatan and examine its potential as a medium for introducing local cultural values to young children in Kadilangu Village, Demak. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with data collected through interviews and documentation. The main informant was Adi Purnomo, S.Pd., M.Si., who served as the chairperson of the Murwokolo Mass Ruwatan procession. Documentation was used to examine children's involvement, particularly in the siraman ritual. Secondary data were obtained through a literature review addressing local wisdom-based early childhood education, cultural introduction, experiential learning, and cultural transmission. Data were analyzed descriptively and thematically by identifying the stages of the procession, their meanings, children's involvement, and the cultural values embedded in the tradition. The findings indicate that the Murwokolo Mass Ruwatan consists of several interconnected stages, including participant registration and classification, selamatan, kirab, siweran, wayang kulit performance, sungkeman, siraman, tebusan sukerta, mbabut kupat luar, and wilujengan. Children can participate directly in several stages, particularly the siraman, which is understood by the community as a symbolic process of removing and cleansing sengkala. The tradition also embodies customary, social, and religious values while creating intergenerational interactions among children, parents, elders, the dalang, and the wider community. These findings suggest that the Murwokolo Mass Ruwatan has potential as a contextual, participatory, and intergenerational medium for introducing local cultural values to young children. However, this study does not establish its effectiveness in influencing children's development or character formation; rather, it highlights the tradition's potential as a space for cultural experience and intergenerational transmission of local values.