When is Thedak siten?
It is when the baby is 7 selapan (or 245 days). Selapan is a combination between the amount of days (five) of Javanese calender. It is called weton or selapanan, which means 35 days. Usually tedhak siten ritual ceremony is done in the morning at the front yard and attended by the parents, grandparents, close family and neighbours or friends.
Similiar with other traditional ceremonies, tedhak siten ritual ceremony is also marked with sajen / offering consisiting of: flowers, herbs, and vegetables. This offering is beautifully arranged representing a sacred. Offering is not superstition, it symbolizes request and pray to God the almighty in order to get blessings from the ancestors, to combat evil deed human and bad spirit.
The ceremony
The original Javanese ceremony is pretty complex and not really practical for family living in modern day. However, the concept within its rituals is still meaningful and plausible for people today. Depending on the region, there are many versions of this ritual. In general, the ritual includes the following steps.
First, the baby is guided to walk in a path of 7 different colours (red, white, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet) of glutinous rice plates, or jadah or tetel. They are made from glutinous rice, mixed with young coconut grating and pinch of salt. The colour of these plates symbolized different steps in life. They are arranged from the darker colour to brighter colour. The baby must step from the darker plate to the brighter plate, from darkness in life to clarity. The child will be able to overcome all obtacles in life.
Second, the baby is guided to climb on a 7 steps ladder made or Arjuna, sugar-cane and then guide to step down the ladder. Sugar-cane (or tebu in Javanese) represents strong will, and is a short form of antebing kalbu or heart’s will. Passing the Arjuna sugar-cane ladder ritual is a symbol that he/ she should walk in life with confidence and determination, like the heroic Arjuna character ( a noble warrior character of puppet play).
Stepping down the ladder, the baby is guided to walk on a pile of sand. He should do ceker-ceker or to scratch the sand with both feet like a rooster. This ritual shows that the baby will have to work and to earn something to fulfil his/her need.
The baby is then guided into a decorated chicken’s cage by his/her mother (sometimes the mother accompanies the baby inside the cage) and is locked inside. There are several items inside the cage, such as writing-books, jewelry, golden accesories - ring, necklace, bracelet, rice cotton and other useful items. The parents let the baby chooses one item. If the baby took the writing-book to play, then he / she could be working in an office or be a professor. If the baby took the jewelries, then he / she could be a rich person. The cage (as well as mother inside the cage) represents the guardians of the child when entering life.
Following the above rituals, the parents throw udik-udik, a mixture of coins, yellow rice and flowers to the people who are attending the ceremony. This ritual represents a wish for the baby to have a prosperous life and to be generous to help other people.
The last two rituals are bathing the baby with setaman flowers, consisting of roses, jasmines, magnolias and canangas and dress the baby. This bathing ritual depicts that the baby could bring respect, honor, and fame to the family. Whereas dressing baby with new dresses represent hope that the baby should always have a good and prosperous life and can make the parents live happily.
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