AN ANALYSIS OF PENTI RITUAL AS A LOCAL WISDOM OF MANGGARAI SOCIETY, IN POPO VILLAGE

Abstrak

The research employed a qualitative descriptive method. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation involving traditional elders (tua gendang), community leaders, and local residents in Popo Village, North Satar Mese Sub-district, Manggarai Regency. The collected data were analyzed through three stages: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. This method allowed the researcher to interpret the ritual’s meanings based on the participants’ experiences and the cultural context of the Manggarai society. The research focuses on the social reality and cultural context as experienced and perceived by the Manggarai community members in Popo Village. The final output is a rich, detailed, narrative description of the ritual's history, structures, and the specific meanings it holds (religious, social, cultural, and moral/ecological The findings show that the Penti ritual embodies several significant meanings: (1) Religious meaning, as an expression of gratitude and devotion to Mori Kraeng and the ancestors; (2) Social meaning, as a medium to strengthen unity, cooperation, and solidarity among community members; (3) Cultural meaning, as a process of transmitting values, norms, and traditional knowledge from generation to generation;(4),Moral and ecological meaning, as a reminder to live in purity, justice, and harmony with nature.These findings indicate that the Penti ritual serves as an important manifestation of local wisdom (kearifan lokal), which guides the moral, social, and spiritual life of the Manggarai people. It functions not only as a religious ceremony but also as a cultural mechanism for maintaining identity, solidarity, and environmental balance. In conclusion, Penti represents a holistic worldview of the Manggarai people, integrating faith, morality, and ecology into one unified cultural system. Therefore, preserving this ritual is crucial to sustaining Manggarai’s cultural identity and transmitting its values to future generations.