Welcome to "The Untold Story", an ongoing series that will guide you through the folklore of Southeast Asia. Passed down through generations, these stories shape people's beliefs and customs, leaving an indelible mark on their collective consciousness. Amongst the many cultural stories, there are some that remain largely hidden from the world - stories that hold secrets and mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
This journey encourages us to immerse ourselves in the traditions and beliefs that have shaped our society, to unearth the wisdom hidden in the shadows of the unknown. Prepare to be fascinated, horrified and enlightened as we enter the enigmatic world of "The Untold Story: Pamali, the Forbidden Practices.
This first article in The Untold Story series will visit the folklore of Indonesia, Pamali. Pamali is one of Indonesia's cultural heritage sagas, born from local wisdom. This story is born out of people's experiences, which are then integrated into certain prohibitions or taboos. Pamali has been an integral part of people's lives since ancient times.
Pamali refers to unwritten customary norms that grow and develop as habits in society. These norms are implemented based on the awareness of each individual to create order. The affirmation of the applicability of this unwritten norm occurs naturally through social interactions that have been going on for years. Thus, Pamali is known and believed by the community because it has become part of the hereditary heritage.
Although there are opinions that it is a mere myth that has been invented, it cannot be denied that some people still believe in Pamali and apply it in their daily lives. It can be seen as a stern warning that violating the prohibition of Pamali could potentially lead to disaster.
As well as serving as a myth, Pamali is also becoming an unwritten rule that regulates various aspects of people's lives outside of religious beliefs. Although it is difficult to determine when and where pamali was invented, its existence is almost omnipresent in various aspects of life among different tribes in Indonesia. In Indonesia's cultural diversity, pamali becomes part of an invaluable identity, telling the story of ancestral wisdom that is still relevant today.
Although pamali is not an official rule, the behaviour of avoiding pamali prohibitions becomes a habit that is considered a norm of propriety. This reflects how people do not limit the application of pamali in their daily lives because they feel that violating it creates a sense of rudeness.
One form of pamali that exists in Indonesia is the pamali asup ka leuweung prohibition, which comes from the people of Kampung Naga Tasikmalaya, West Java. In the interior of Kampung Naga Tasikmalaya there is a forest called "hutan larangan". This place is considered sacred, so no one is allowed to enter the area. This norm is deeply ingrained in the daily lives of the local indigenous people. Residents strictly avoid entering the forest, so it is a behaviour that is respected and observed.
On many occasions, including when trees have fallen from the forbidden forest, the community has steadfastly refused to collect them for firewood as usual. Instead, the trees are simply moved to the edge of the forest in the hope that they will not block the pathways of the people of Kampung Naga. They respect the ban and believe in the mystical power that surrounds the forest, reflecting their local wisdom and ecological awareness.
Pamali is present in society with good intentions to maintain values and norms in social life. Although at present Pamali has an almost neglected influence on social life, especially in the view of Generation Z, Pamali is actually effective in creating safe and harmonious values and norms in community life.
If the community sees Pamali as a tool to convey goodness and reality, then the existence of Pamali will continue to be preserved and maintained. However, if Pamali is seen only as a myth without any logical basis, as a form of backward thinking, then Pamali will easily be neglected and forgotten by the community. Therefore, it is important to explain and link Pamali to the existing reality in the society so that its existence as an oral tradition is sustained.
Referrence:
Syarubany, Abu Hanif Muhammad., et al. (2021). Pengaruh Pamali Sebagai Kearifan Lokal dalam Mewujudkan Nilai dan Norma dalam Kehidupan Sosial Generasi Z. Jurnal Kewarganegaraan, 5(2). P. 571
Nurdiansah, Nano. (2017). Budaya Pamali Sebagai Landasan Pembelajaran Lingkungan di Sekolah Dasar. Pedagogi Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan, 4(1), P. 64
Uniawati. (2014). Boat in Pamali of Bajo People: Analysis of Halliday Social Semiotics. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 20(4), P. 577
