ER
IF you hear the word war, of course that comes a scary impression. However, the Topat War which was held at the Lingsar Temple Complex, Lingsar District, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), was far from being scary, on the contrary a sense of peace emerged after the “war” was held.
Hundreds of participants in the war between Muslims and Hindus as well as the Sasak and Balinese tribes came together to become one. They came to attend a tradition of West Lombok society that has lasted for hundreds of years.
This topat war tradition tells the peace of the people of West Lombok when practicing life in diversity. Islam and Hinduism come together without friction and confrontation. What emerged was precisely the tradition of the Topat War that has survived until now.
According to the Regent of West Lombok Fauzan Khalid explained that the Topat War was not a real war, but rather a tradition of West Lombok people that had lasted for hundreds of years.
He said, this tradition symbolizes the peace of the people of West Lombok when practicing life in diversity. Islam and Hinduism have fused without friction and confrontation until now.
“The series of Topat War activities is one proof of religious life, which is based on togetherness and shared values. This is very much alive in West Lombok Regency,” said Fauzan.
According to Regent Fauzan, the religious harmony can be witnessed before the peak of the Topat War begins with the ritual of parading buffalo. Religious figures from representatives of Muslims and Hindus held buffalo ropes as they paraded around the Lingsar Temple park.
“Buffalo is a symbol of respect for Muslims and Hindus. What a beautiful reality wrapped in total awareness that we are all creatures of Allah SWT, in order to knit brotherhood and peace. So the philosophy of the Topat War is to maintain the tradition of maintaining tolerance, “he said.
He also asked the West Lombok Tourism Office to ensure the calendar of organizing the Topat War tradition so that it could be known a year before.
“I ask the Department of Tourism to be able to discuss it with all indigenous stakeholders so that the date of the implementation of the Topat War tradition can be ascertained earlier,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Deputy Marketing I Regional III Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Muh Ricky Fauziyani said the Topat War tradition was a lesson on how to maintain tolerance and friendship between two tribes and religions in West Lombok.
“West Lombok is fortunate to have a high noble tradition. That is what we must preserve, as well as being promoted so that many tourists are interested in the culture here. Moreover, Lombok has a Mandalika priority super destination area, it must be maximally utilized,” said Ricky. [traveltext .id]
